DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: Proverbs 3:11-12 – My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

We all believe that discipline sucks from time to time, especially as a child. I want to be brief but very practical today. We have to be willing to take correction and discipline because of what it truly showcases. As any parent can attest to or has experienced in their own upbringing, discipline is essential in making sure 1) your child understands their limits 2) they learn how to function in obedience and 3) it shows them that you care about what happens to them & you want to help them avoid problems in life. Without discipline people would be running wild in this world, since no one would care or love anyone enough, people’s bad behavior would continually uncorrected. Although it doesn’t feel good while in it, many of us understand and are grateful for the discipline of our parents. Prayerfully it made us and continues to make us better adults and parents.

This is even so with our Father God in heaven. He loves us more than we can actually even comprehend. If He loves us so much, do you think He would stand idly by and let us destroy our souls and not try to correct us? What parent on earth would even do that and they get tired of us! If a human parent can love you enough to discipline you so that you live in accordance to the laws of this world, how much more do you think our spiritual Father in heaven will do if we’re not obedient to His laws, decrees, and commands? We have to get over ourselves. As we take the discipline from our parents and realize its benefits for our lives so also should we take God’s discipline for the well-being and benefit of our souls. Don’t get mad at it, embrace it and do better.

So why discipline us? Well, simply it says a couple of important things about our relationship with God; 1) that He loves us and 2) that He delights in us being better by our obedience to Him. We’ve seen His love as it even parallels that of our earthly parents and it should make perfect sense to those of us who are parents. Going further, we are hit once again with this word delight; which is to take pleasure in as seen from yesterday’s devotional. If God loves you, you can expect to be disciplined because He takes pleasure in you being His child and you having a better life. What should concern you is if God never disciplines you.

Today we pray that our hearts, minds, and spirits aren’t troubled or mad at God for those things He allows or disciplines us in. He does it out of His love for us and desire for us to learn from our mistakes. Why wouldn’t He care about His greatest creation or want it to be all it can be? We are all God’s creations and He wants and knows what’s best for us. Let the Word of God help correct and make us more discipline in living how our Father intended and wants. If you’re being disciplined and you know what God is telling you to do; smile because God loves you and He’s trying to give you a life He can delight in! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!