Over the past few weeks, Levi has now learned the word "no". It is clear that he has reached an age where he is deciding what he wants to do and what he does not want to do. For the past two weeks I have been sharing from the book of Hebrews in the 12th chapter. One verse that I have been reminded of is verse 11 which says:
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (NKJV)
With this verse in my mind realizing that everyday I can choose to listen to the voice of the Lord. I have been challenged by these simple acts of discipline. Just being sensitive to His voice when He speaks is what I have been trying to do. For example, when I am at La Roca I will sometimes make myself a frappe or smoothie. Last week when I was starting to make it, I just felt the Lord saying you shouldn't this time. It was not a grand huge thing that God was speaking to me about but it was a small little thing that is denying myself the pleasure of having a frappuccino. It is not bad to have one. But being willing to say no when I need to. Having to deal with Levi as I stated earlier, that he is now defining me, many times because his just doesn't want to do what I am asking him to do. This in turn has given me an area of my life, I need to question: how am I responding to what God is asking me to do? Do I just say no to Him as my father because I just don't want to do it? I am His son. It also says in this passage of Hebrews that God disciplines those He loves. I like the second part of verse that says, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. The word that sticks out to me is the word trained. It is clear that discipline is a process and takes time. I am God's son. He loves me and wants to train me in His ways. Afterwards it will produce fruit. Oh how, I need the Lord to train me to be disciplined. May you find God's discipline as a joy to your lives knowing that it will produce later.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (NKJV)
With this verse in my mind realizing that everyday I can choose to listen to the voice of the Lord. I have been challenged by these simple acts of discipline. Just being sensitive to His voice when He speaks is what I have been trying to do. For example, when I am at La Roca I will sometimes make myself a frappe or smoothie. Last week when I was starting to make it, I just felt the Lord saying you shouldn't this time. It was not a grand huge thing that God was speaking to me about but it was a small little thing that is denying myself the pleasure of having a frappuccino. It is not bad to have one. But being willing to say no when I need to. Having to deal with Levi as I stated earlier, that he is now defining me, many times because his just doesn't want to do what I am asking him to do. This in turn has given me an area of my life, I need to question: how am I responding to what God is asking me to do? Do I just say no to Him as my father because I just don't want to do it? I am His son. It also says in this passage of Hebrews that God disciplines those He loves. I like the second part of verse that says, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. The word that sticks out to me is the word trained. It is clear that discipline is a process and takes time. I am God's son. He loves me and wants to train me in His ways. Afterwards it will produce fruit. Oh how, I need the Lord to train me to be disciplined. May you find God's discipline as a joy to your lives knowing that it will produce later.
