Discipline

Do you ever wish you could get a direct word from God? We can read his Word, pray, and still feel like “I got nothing.” But every so often we realize that he has been talking with us. Recently I’ve been “stuck” in Hebrews 12. Over and over I read this chapter and find that something different catches my attention, waiting to speak to me. Overall, the chapter is about living life in relationship with God, but a good part of it focuses on God’s training and disciplining of us. After all, if we are to run with perseverance the race set before us, we must be disciplined as runners. We must throw off the sin that so easily entangles us so that we can run with endurance.

But the process of becoming a more disciplined “runner” – or “disciple” – can be challenging. Knowing that vegetables are good for us or that exercise keeps us healthy doesn’t necessarily mean we jump out of bed excited to do a workout and then spend the rest of the day eating perfectly. Sometimes the disciplines that it takes to be healthy – physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc. – can seem overwhelming. In the midst of that, here is an encouraging word from God:

My Child,

Don’t underestimate the value of the discipline and training of the Lord God, or get depressed when I have to correct you. For the Lord’s training of your life is the evidence of my faithful love. And when I draw you to myself, it proves you are my delightful child. You should welcome my discipline as the validation of authentic sonship. I correct you through your life for your own good, giving you an invitation to share my holiness. This discipline will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to you who yield to it.

I love you,
Your Abba Father

Abba Father,

Thank you for offering us encouragement when we are struggling or discouraged. Thank you for your lovingkindness that disciplines us so that we can be transformed to be more like Jesus and know your righteousness and peace. Help us to willingly submit to you, our Trainer, whose discipline in our lives is so valuable. Help us allow you to work on us so that we can become more holy. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

“My child, don’t underestimate the value

of the discipline and training of the Lord God,

or get depressed when he has to correct you. 

For the Lord’s training of your life

is the evidence of his faithful love. 

And when he draws you to himself,

it proves you are his delightful child.” 

“Fully embrace God’s correction as part of your training,  for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. For who has ever heard of a child who never had to be corrected?   We all should welcome God’s discipline as the validation of authentic sonship. For if we have never once endured his correction it only proves we are strangers and not sons.

“And isn’t it true that we respect our earthly fathers even though they corrected and disciplined us? Then we should demonstrate an even greater respect for God, our spiritual Father, as we submit to his life-giving discipline.   Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share his holiness. 11Now all discipline  seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace  to those who yield to it.” (Hebrews 12:1-10 TPT)