The Bit, the Bridle, and the Heart
Read James 3:1-12
“If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” - James 3:2-3
I grew up around horses — riding them, training them, and learning their rhythms. If you’ve ever been around horses, you know the importance of the bit and bridle. A bit is a small piece of metal placed in a horse’s mouth, attached to the bridle and reins used to direct the horse.
James 3 uses this imagery to describe the power of our words. Just as a small bit can direct the strength of an entire horse, so the tongue — though small — has the power to direct the course of a life. It can bless or curse, build up or tear down, set peace or ignite destruction [as our thoughts become our words, and our words inevitably become our actions].
A bit to a horse that’s not tame is nothing but an irritant; it is foreign and confusing. They’ll toss their head and fight, bracing against every guiding tug on the little piece of equipment. They do not understand even the harshest and most exaggerated cues from their rider's hand. However, to the tame horse, a bit is expected and welcomed into their mouth with ease. Once trust is built between horse and rider, the bit is no longer a burden. It becomes a tool of communication. A well-trained horse will respond quickly to even the lightest touch of the reins and is guided with ease by the hand of its rider.
In short, to control the body, yes, the mouth must be controlled first, but there is something that even comes before the mouth that requires attention—the heart. If you can bond and earn the trust of a horse, you don’t just have a tame horse, you have all its heart, too.
The heart must be persuaded before the tongue can be tamed.
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” - Matt. 12:34
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23
It is not the tongue that needs taming but the heart behind the tongue. Of course, we need to watch what we say and how we speak, but if we want a permanent change, we must examine the heart behind the matter and assess the problem at its root.
For me, the lesson is simple: it’s not just about controlling what I say and do, but about allowing God to transform my heart through intimacy with Him. When He has my heart, He has my whole life.
I think back to one of my horses in particular, the one I called my heart horse (both ironically and unironically, his name was Maverick). I bonded with him so deeply that I could ride him bridless and bareback without any tack at all. Maverick and I would go galloping and jumping with nothing between us but my pants and his furry coat. It was exhilarating — pure freedom. No bridle, no reins, no saddle. Just trust, connection, and movement as one. I felt so alive in those moments, like we were communicating without barriers, heart to heart, just soaring.
That’s how life feels when we are wholly surrendered to Christ. When nothing stands between us, when we move in sync with His Spirit, there’s freedom, joy, and holy adrenaline. Just as I trusted my Maverick and he trusted me, we are called to trust Jesus with our whole heart. And when we do, our lives — like the movement of a bonded horse — flow in rhythm with His heart.
Devotional Questions:
Have you ever found yourself resisting God’s “gentle hand” the way an untamed horse resists the bit? What does that resistance look like in your life?
If someone listened to your words over the past week, what would they say about the “abundance of your heart” (Matthew 12:34)?
What specific step can you take this week to soften your heart so that it responds quickly to the “light pressure” of the Holy Spirit?