My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in – Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)
There are moments when our Heavenly Father must discipline us. Discipline is never easy. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.” Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” – Hebrews 12:11 NIV).
Every time God disciplined me, He was right to do it. There were times when I knowingly strayed from His path, and He corrected me and showed me ‘the consequences’ of my actions. Yet He didn’t do it in anger, He did it in love, just as a “father corrects a child in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12).
It was tough! Sometimes I felt like God was angry with me. During these times, I was reminded of David’s prayer: “Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath… Turn Lord, and deliver me; save me because of Your unfailing love – Psalm 6:1,4 (NIV).
Sometimes, God felt so far away, and “My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat (Psalm 32:4 – NLT). But then I acknowledged my sins to Him, and He forgave me (Psalm 32:5 – NKJV).
Every day we need to confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness as individuals and as a family. The Word of God tells us that “…everyone undergoes discipline…” (Hebrews 12:8 – NIV). If we do not, we are not God’s children. Let us not make light of God’s discipline or give up when He corrects us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to have humble hearts that are quick to confess our sins with “godly sorrow that brings repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10 – NIV) so that we follow You with new faithfulness, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Read: Deuteronomy 8:5; Ezekiel 44:10
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 37:32-40; Luke 6:37-49; Luke 7:1-10; Numbers 22:21-41; Numbers 23:1-26
