|
November 15, 2012
Day 10
Hand of Discipline
______________________________________
Dear Praying Friend,
Whether we like it or not, pain is a signal the Lord has given our bodies to alert us that something is wrong. Sadly, we have become so adept at masking and medicating our pain, we have failed to address the underlying problem that set the alarm off in the first place.
In verse one, of our Scripture meditation this week, the psalmist pleaded with the Lord to refrain from His rebuke and discipline. In His tender mercy our Lord will first rebuke, or warn, before He disciplines (or chastises) His children. If we fail to heed His warnings and neglect to submit to His will He will discipline us until we fully submit to His plans. His discipline is not always the result of our disobedience - sometimes it is often exercised in order to prepare and equip us for the future.
As we meditate on Psalm 6:3 today, we once again hear the psalmist cry out "How long, O Lord, how long?" He is desperate for relief. When we are suffering from affliction or being oppressed by an enemy, we are in bondage to the pain; only the Lord can bring us the deliverance we so desperately need. Until deliverance comes may we persevere through the pain and endure the suffering, so we might fully learn the lesson the Lord has prepared for us.
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son."
(Hebrews 12:5b-6)
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word teaches that You discipline us for our good; our current affliction is for our future benefit. Lord, give us the patience, and perseverance, we need to endure through the pain of testing so that we will not fail, but instead, be fully equipped to do Your will once we have passed through this fiery trial. We confess that we are not always the obedient children we should be and do not listen as intently as we should to Your rebuke. Forgive us for failing to heed Your warnings. If it is necessary to suffer pain today in order to be restored to Your Presence, then we humbly ask for strength to endure for whatever the length of time it takes for You to accomplish Your purposes in our life. Help us to not grow bitter through the suffering, or to turn our backs on You because we might think You have turned Your back on us. Help us to not grow weary and quit, but give us strength to accept and submit to Your hand of discipline. 'I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.' Thank You for being with us and for loving us too much to let us wander from Your Presence.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Steadfast in prayer,
Traci Alexander
Trumpet and Torch Ministries
Psalm 27
_______________________________________________________
Prayer Scripture References: Job 5:17; Psalm 23:4b; Proverbs 3:11-12; Romans 5:3; Hebrews 12:4, 7, 10-11; James 1:3-4; 5:11; Revelation 3:19. |
