Be Honest With Yourself
How do you respond to criticism or correction? Both can be pretty tough to take at times and our response can actually be a sign of our spiritual maturity.
When Abigail spoke correction to David she did it with her words full of grace, seasoned with salt and it turned the whole situation around. She graciously pointed out that what he intended to do was wrong. God had a better plan and destiny for Him and she reminded him of how God had already given him victory when he was slinging stones for Godly purposes.
She acknowledged that he was being pursued by someone who wanted to kill him, then reassured him that his life was bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord, but his enemies, God will hurl away from the pocket of the sling. (1Samuel 25:29)
David listened to the correction and responded with Godly maturity. He praised God that He had sent Abigail to meet him and correct him otherwise he would have sinned against the Lord with his actions. He was honest with himself about his wrong desires for revenge and he changed his course of action.
Proverbs 17:10 states that a rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. He was grateful for the correction. Do you feel grateful when you receive correction?
Hebrews 12:11 explains that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Isn’t that true. Correction can hurt, mostly our pride. But if we are maturing in our walk with Christ we are grateful that He loves us enough to discipline us.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (TPT) is such an encouraging verse because it tells us of God’s love in discipline. “My child, when the Lord God speaks to you, never take his words lightly, and never be upset when he corrects you. For the Father’s discipline comes only from his passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like his correction is harsh.”
What a gift it is when God sends someone with a humble spirit to speak words of correction into our lives and if we are honest with ourselves we will see the correction as the gift of love that it was intended.
My Prayer
Father, thank you for Your correction. I know that You love me and that You only want the best for me. Your discipline is proof that You are guiding and directing my life. Help me be honest with myself and apply Your discipline the way it is intended so that I can correct my course when needed. Let your discipline be a reminder of Your love for me. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Where does my help come from?
Hebrews 12:5-6
“And have you 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 Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as his son.”