The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "DESIRE TO CHANGE" for Monday, 26 September 2016 with Scripture: Hebrews 12:7 Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? 8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.
11 Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.
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Discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.[Hebrews 12:11 (NRSV)]
“I really said that?” The new teacher’s assistant was unaware that she had just spent five minutes badgering a struggling student. Hearing her words and irritated tone of voice, the demoralized second-grade boy had slumped in his chair. As her supervisor, I wanted to help her understand the damage her words had caused. She insisted, through tears, that she did not realize she had spoken that way. Her sorrow indicated a desire to change. So I spent time showing her other ways to handle frustration in the classroom. She relaxed and began to enjoy her time with the student. He began to engage again.
In my relationship with God I find myself doing the same thing. “I did that, God?” My disbelief has been equally genuine and pain-filled when God has helped me to see my shortcomings. In Revelation 3:19, God says, “I reprove and discipline those whom I love.” How often do we gossip and not think about how hurtful it is? How often do we disagree with someone and assume that they are in the wrong? How often do we fail to tell the whole truth?
We may not recognize our sins until God points them out. When we respond to correction, God, without condemnation, gives us strength and courage to change.
The Author: Karen Dorsey (Oregon, USA)
Thought for the Day: What change is God urging me to make in my life today?
Prayer: Dear God, give us the willingness to recognize our sinful behavior and to accept your help to change our ways. Thank you for always forgiving us. Amen.
Prayer focus: ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS
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Discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.[Hebrews 12:11 (NRSV)]
“I really said that?” The new teacher’s assistant was unaware that she had just spent five minutes badgering a struggling student. Hearing her words and irritated tone of voice, the demoralized second-grade boy had slumped in his chair. As her supervisor, I wanted to help her understand the damage her words had caused. She insisted, through tears, that she did not realize she had spoken that way. Her sorrow indicated a desire to change. So I spent time showing her other ways to handle frustration in the classroom. She relaxed and began to enjoy her time with the student. He began to engage again.
In my relationship with God I find myself doing the same thing. “I did that, God?” My disbelief has been equally genuine and pain-filled when God has helped me to see my shortcomings. In Revelation 3:19, God says, “I reprove and discipline those whom I love.” How often do we gossip and not think about how hurtful it is? How often do we disagree with someone and assume that they are in the wrong? How often do we fail to tell the whole truth?
We may not recognize our sins until God points them out. When we respond to correction, God, without condemnation, gives us strength and courage to change.
The Author: Karen Dorsey (Oregon, USA)
Thought for the Day: What change is God urging me to make in my life today?
Prayer: Dear God, give us the willingness to recognize our sinful behavior and to accept your help to change our ways. Thank you for always forgiving us. Amen.
Prayer focus: ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS
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