Discipline

For Our Good

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you (Deuteronomy 8:5).

Israel's sojourn in the wilderness was a time of God's discipline of his children. He was seeking to correct their wayward attitude so that they might be prepared to obediently go into the land. The good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 

Let us stop and ponder the goodness of God when we are going through times of distress or troubles. For sometimes when we are going through these seasons of discipline in life, the LORD God is bringing us into a better place.  For he knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:13). Out of his abundance that never ends he will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Let us be still and know that he is God no matter what season of life we are in (Psalm 46:10).  Whether on the mountain top or in the valley, His ways are much higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). He knows what is best for you. He has created your most inward parts and has knitted you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). 

LORD, I come to you with a heart that is humbled by your goodness. With thanksgiving I come to you for your great love for us. Let my heart take comfort when I feel as though I am going through seasons of discipline in my life for you are bringing me closer to you. It is by your strength that I am able to endure. Thank you for the grace you have poured out on sinners such as me. For it is by grace I have been saved through faith and that not of my own but is a gift from God. Thank you for Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. It is his precious name I pray. It is in the name of Jesus my redeemer I pray, amen.