PROMISE #17 - JANUARY 17
Promise #17:
I will discipline you in love as a father who loves his children.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (WEB)
11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
When we think of being disciplined, we usually default to our own life experience of what that means. If we were treated harshly as children, it would be understandable for us to fear the Lord's discipline because we might see His discipline through the same lens as our own parents. But the reality is that God is not like any parent on earth. Matthew 5:48 says that He is the perfect father.
When our Heavenly Father disciplines us, His motivation is not anger or rejection but complete love. Just like we would not want our little ones to be burned by putting their hands on a hot stove, neither does our Father want us to be hurt in any way. His heart for us is complete wholeness, so along the way, there will be times when He will need to correct us so that we can learn from our mistakes.
In Hebrews 12:4-12, the writer talks in more detail about the discipline of the Lord and how it is a sign that God is treating us as His sons. The result is for our good and will lead to a harvest of righteousness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will dismantle any fear of our Father's discipline based on any human form of punishment we have received.
May we all see that our Heavenly Dad trains us and corrects us for our own good because of His great love for us.
***
Responsive Prayer:
Father, thank you that you are a loving Father who disciplines me for my good. Help me to have eyes to see how you are training me in the way I should go, even in times when I don’t understand the process.
I ask that you dismantle every misconception of your disciplining love that was misrepresented to me throughout my life. I am thankful that you always have my best interests at heart when you are training me so I can produce a harvest of righteousness that will last for eternity.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
I will discipline you in love as a father who loves his children.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (WEB)
11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
When we think of being disciplined, we usually default to our own life experience of what that means. If we were treated harshly as children, it would be understandable for us to fear the Lord's discipline because we might see His discipline through the same lens as our own parents. But the reality is that God is not like any parent on earth. Matthew 5:48 says that He is the perfect father.
When our Heavenly Father disciplines us, His motivation is not anger or rejection but complete love. Just like we would not want our little ones to be burned by putting their hands on a hot stove, neither does our Father want us to be hurt in any way. His heart for us is complete wholeness, so along the way, there will be times when He will need to correct us so that we can learn from our mistakes.
In Hebrews 12:4-12, the writer talks in more detail about the discipline of the Lord and how it is a sign that God is treating us as His sons. The result is for our good and will lead to a harvest of righteousness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will dismantle any fear of our Father's discipline based on any human form of punishment we have received.
May we all see that our Heavenly Dad trains us and corrects us for our own good because of His great love for us.
***
Responsive Prayer:
Father, thank you that you are a loving Father who disciplines me for my good. Help me to have eyes to see how you are training me in the way I should go, even in times when I don’t understand the process.
I ask that you dismantle every misconception of your disciplining love that was misrepresented to me throughout my life. I am thankful that you always have my best interests at heart when you are training me so I can produce a harvest of righteousness that will last for eternity.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.