We get knocked off our feet in many ways in life. Every now and again we all need an awakening. For some, it may by a swift kick or a hard swat on the “okole” (butt). Most discipline comes with a price that moves us to change.
(Photo is Laura with the goddess "Nike" or "victory" in Ephesus)
My children have often responded well to such discipline. It wakes them up from their selfish little stupor that overtakes them in their small little world of “me, myself and I”. We want them to be a joy and a blessing not only to us but to the world around them. It takes training and discipline to get them to this point in many areas of their lives. All of this demands a level of commitment on our part to see that they grow into their God given design and function on this side of heaven.
It is a continual challenge and intentional decision on our part to see them through via our training and discipline. We are sure their precious lives have a destiny to fulfill.
My destiny and purpose gets messed with and there are moments that I need a good “spanking” to reality & truth.
The discipline of our heavenly Father is sobering and causes us to come to a few senses we would perhaps like to avoid.
Yet, the reality is that I, personally, often ask my heavenly Father for His “opinion” over my life. He never holds back from me and is free to give me His view over the issues in my heart.
In one way, I hate it very deeply. It makes me mad, sad, disappointed, emotional and at times struck with hopelessness and a tinge of depression. I have even been known to throw a little tantrum. Bad girl.
In God’s kind way, He saves me from myself and the negativity of my emotional state and speaks the right words to me or gives me the perfect kind acts through many of my friends to make light my way and to ease the blow of my chastisement. It is not fun being “spanked”.
The Lord Himself could actually say with all truthfulness….”this HAS hurt me more than it will hurt you….suck it up…it is nothing compared to my pain and ultimate death on your behalf…”
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:11-13
These words breathe life and hope back into my corrupt system and help me to gain perspective from above. I am in training to yield a result of right living. I am gaining strength for my weary limbs that I might walk straight on my path of healing and wholeness. The path of shedding all that hinders and disqualifies me from effectiveness, freedom and blossoming relationships. How can God draw all men to himself if I am in the way? He must be seen, heard and felt through this vessel if I desire my life to account for anything of eternal value.
We are all given to misbehavior. It is the sin within that drives our wrong behaviors. It is interesting that our behavior is mainly evident through “relationships” that surround us. We practice the things that are in our hearts on others. It is revealing as we discover our attitudes, feelings and emotions that we display as we interact with our world.
We learn a lot if we want to and are open to such learning. God our Father is such a great Teacher and perfect parent.
As we open ourselves up to Him and others, I believe we are challenged with the unrest in the relationships we have. Through the unrest we realize God is there attempting to overtake us and our emotions. We are then encouraged to pursue peace and sanctification if we really want to see the Lord.
How we need to depend on the Lord for this and the grace it takes to get through our emotions and human attitudes?!
If we don’t, we are open to the ugly root of bitterness which has taken over many a life and affected countless more in the process. A destructive path to be sure….completely out of line and crippling to all who enter such a road…
I once heard it said, “I hate consequences!”
Hating it shall never erase them. I have often heard myself say to parents with younger children….”pay now or pay later…..if you don’t discipline and train misbehavior when they are little, you will pay a higher price later….” There is a lot of physical energy when they are little, but as they grow older, parents tend to exert more emotional energy.
“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load. And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Gal 6:4-10
Through life experiences and consequences;
-We examine ourselves realistically
-We realize what we must alter in our hearts
-We keep our hearts right with the strength of the Lord
-We focus on God
-We give generously to all men especially those who are in the household of faith.
Look in, look up and look outward to the needs that prevail around us. We can never stay looking inward and wallow there. It is all about our focus and perspective right back where it needs to be.
Loving God and loving others.
“Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, …...You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. Hebrews 12:1-6
I sense disentangling within my own life by God who is purifying me and setting me up to run my race more effectively for Him. I count it a blessing to be loved and received by so great of a Teacher, Friend and Father. He is good and no good thing will He withhold from those who love him.
Laura
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