Tag: discipline

Posted on

Training In the hands of God – God’s Promises

Training in the hands of god is a wonderful experience. God trains those he loves. The sole intention of God in training his children is to see them grow in spiritual maturity. We are called to run a race of endurance. Can we stay calm and peaceful when we face unforeseen situations that bring despair and darkness to our lives? God uses our trials and tribulations to strengthen us. The sufferings and hardships are part of Gods bigger plan to help us, discipline us and to teach us life’s valuable lessons. He disciplines us for our own good. Are we listening? Are we taking this discipline seriously?

Its painful and hard to go through the process of discipline but it’s worth it. It is difficult to face insults, being look down and criticism from the loved ones, friends and neighbors during the process of training.  But our god is a trustworthy god, who can sail us through the troubled waters.

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. Psalm 18:32

This is what the LORD says– your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48: 17

God tests us in the furnace of affliction. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Is 48:10) It is god who allows everything in our life, good times and bad times, light and darkness, prosperity and disaster that are meant only to refine us and not to harm us.

GODS PROMISES ON TRAINING

  • When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
  • I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)
  • Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. (Psalm 119:67)
  • It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm (119:71)
  • Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; (Psalm 144: 1)
  • Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 timothy 4:7-8)
  • Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 cor 9:24-27)
  • I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)
  • For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
  • A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40 )

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to understand that all your refining processes and pruning is for our better yields. You prune every branch that does bear fruit so that it will be even more fruitful. The process may be painful and hurting, but I trust you, as the ultimate goal is to reflect your image in me. Teach me to rejoice in your discipline as you discipline those you love.

Posted on

Human Suffering – God’S Promises

HUMAN SUFFERING – UNDERSTANDING OF A BELIEVER

Pandemic created a tumultuous time for many families, all over the world. Don’t you think we are in the pages of history?  How to take and understand the purpose of God in allowing this suffering in to the world. Why all God’s children are suffering too?

God’s children should always remember that good or evil, whatever happens to us comes for the good of us, as we can see in the bible verses, how much god loves and his heart aches when he sees us suffering.

Hebrews 12:5 says…And you have 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 Lords 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. So let’s not forget the words of encouragement as the Omnipotent God calls us Sons and daughters. We all know that parents discipline their children out of love and concern. In the same way as verse 6 clearly explains…Because the lord disciplines the one he loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as his son. So let us not take the heavenly fathers discipline lightly and don’t be upset when He rebukes you. 

Remember he said in Isaiah 49:16 – he has carved you and me upon the palm of his hands and our boundaries are even before him. What a comfort!  So let us not lose heart, Be encouraged. whatever you have to face in this troubled times remember what god said to Joshua 1:9, “do not be afraid do not be discouraged for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go. The experience of deep waters of trouble is not meant to drown us but to grow us spiritually. The storms of life are not intended to stop us but to cleanse us and to sustain us. God at times make us fall so that we can look up to Him. Sometimes the times of suffering may turn into a season of great revelation. Someone said, the one who has suffered much is like the one who knows many languages, he can understand any one. We look up to God when all the support systems like relatives, friends and well-wishers were removed from our life. Job said, Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;(Job 13:15)

GODS PROMISES ON SUFFERING

  • And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  ( 1 Peter 5:10)
  • For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4 : 17)
  • When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)
  • More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (Romans 5:3-4)
  • For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
  • Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
  • And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  • Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.(psalm 34:19)
  • He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4)
  • Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2tim 3:12)
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 cor 1:3-4)
  • Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12).

PRAYER: Help me lord Jesus to be bold and courageous for you are with me in any and every situation. Let the suffering bring out the desired and intended change in me through the character transformation. Thanks for being such a wonderful God to me.