Psalm 94:10-15
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge--11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. 12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Verse 12 says that "blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD". Being disciplined a blessing? It sure doesn't feel that way when we are undergoing discipline. You don't hear many prayers asking for God to discipline us. But the psalmist says that is the way of blessing, and that it will "give him rest from days of trouble" (verse 13). Gaining rest from trouble is something that I often pray for, but the sobering truth is that my troubles are often self-induced, so that the way of relief does involve discipline. My fear of discipline is based on the faulty assumption that God wants to discipline me just because he's mean and/or doesn't like me. But the truth is that God loves me and wants what is best for me, and He knows that discipline is what I need.
Lord, I confess that I fear discipline. But I also know that I need discipline, so I pray You would discipline and teach me.
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge--11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. 12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Verse 12 says that "blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD". Being disciplined a blessing? It sure doesn't feel that way when we are undergoing discipline. You don't hear many prayers asking for God to discipline us. But the psalmist says that is the way of blessing, and that it will "give him rest from days of trouble" (verse 13). Gaining rest from trouble is something that I often pray for, but the sobering truth is that my troubles are often self-induced, so that the way of relief does involve discipline. My fear of discipline is based on the faulty assumption that God wants to discipline me just because he's mean and/or doesn't like me. But the truth is that God loves me and wants what is best for me, and He knows that discipline is what I need.
Lord, I confess that I fear discipline. But I also know that I need discipline, so I pray You would discipline and teach me.