Today I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me in discipline in all areas of my life.
Scripture: Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”.
Godly discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace, moral training, instruction, and correction that leads to spiritual growth, character development, and Christian maturity. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as “discipline” in the Bible mean “instruction, training, rebuke, reproof, warning, and correction.” Discipline is a vital aspect of the spiritual life of the church and every follower of Jesus Christ.
The author of Hebrews tells us that discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. What type of discipline is the author referring to? Here are two types of discipline that we can face in our lives.
One is the personal discipline required to run this race with perseverance marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1). This is a course set for us by God. He knows the difficulties we experience and has permitted them to enter our lives for our good. A rugby player endures the discomfort of training to reach a desired goal. Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). We must do the same so that we do not lose heart and give up.
The other type is corrective discipline. This is the sort of training a parent does with their child. Sometimes we find this discipline hard, uncomfortable, or even painful. Yet, God in His mercy, only brings this correction in order for us to draw nearer to Him and turn from the sin that will keep us trapped. His discipline is for our own good. As a gracious Father, He is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness
(Psalm 86:15).
In both cases, the experience often comes in the form of hardship. We should not think that God has abandoned us when we face difficulties in our lives. We are being trained “for our good, in order that we may share in his righteousness and peace”. God Himself is our personal trainer. Even better, God is our loving Father. His goal is to give us life and make us more like His Son Jesus Christ. We have nothing to fear from Him.
Be encouraged today that our Father disciplines out of love and builds us up ready to move in his footsteps towards bringing His will on earth as it is in heaven. Dear Lord, help me to have discipline in all areas of my life. May your Holy Spirit, lead and guide me through every encounter, situation, and circumstance. May your strength and power be over me and help me to remember Your ways.
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