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HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S DISCIPLINE (EVEN WHEN IT HURTS)
Kris Vallotton
October 5, 2017
Do you remember being disciplined by your parents? I bet that makes some people cringe to even think about. Some of our parents may not have gotten discipline right, even though I’m sure their heart was to do it well. Whether or not our experience with being corrected is good or bad, we have to learn how to work through our misconceptions about it in order to receive the fullness of God’s love. Why? Because God disciplines the ones He loves.
Sometimes even good correction can hurt, whether it comes from our parents, our teachers, or our friends. The truth is that we actually need correction and discipline if we’re going to be the kind of people who live like nobility and are trusted with a lot of responsibility. Check out more on today’s Flashback Friday video from a Facebook Live I did a few months ago:
In a nutshell:
• We all need to be confronted every so often in life. If we want to grow and mature, it’s important that we stay sensitive to the Lord.
• Put people in your life to tell you the truth, even if it’s correction. When it’s painful to receive the feedback, remember that these people love you and they’re wanting to help you.
• I recently had a moment when God confronted me and I’m so glad He did. Sometimes He knows our hearts better than we do.
• There’s a difference between being sensitive to EVERYONE
and being sensitive to the important people in your life, or the Lord.
• The Lord is moulding us. Trials create endurance and endurance creates hope. And hope does not disappoint. So when God challenges us it’s because He’s increasing our capacity.
• God is growing us and it’s in those moments we have to choose our identities as sons and daughters instead of victims.
• Sonship comes with authority but it also comes with responsibility and correction.
GOOD FATHERS CORRECT THEIR CHILDREN
Let’s take a moment to look at these rich verses: Hebrews 12:4-8 says,
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”
DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF LOVE
Part of being a powerful person instead of a victim is discerning the difference between conviction and condemnation.
As you allow your heart and spirit to be open to God’s discipline, remember to not partner with condemnation that tells you your behavior is your identity. Just because you acted out it does not mean you’re a bad person. God corrects with conviction that says, “Hey! You’re better than that behavior! You are way to amazing to be acting like that.”
I pray for freedom and breakthrough from any victim mindset you may be struggling with today. I pray that when correction comes, that Love would come with it, and in that you would know how valued you are as son or daughter. If we want to be world-changers we actually need correction along the way! Is it easy for you to receive correction from the Lord? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject in the comments!
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