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Discipline - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) July 14, 2026

Jul 13

4 min read

I don't know about you, but I never liked being disciplined when I was younger. As I've gotten older and become a parent, I've come to see those experiences much differently. I now realize that the elders in my life were interested in training and raising me to become a well-functioning member of society. They wanted me to be someone they could be proud of.

The Lord is no different. Like a caring Father, He is invested in people becoming individuals He can be proud of. People who reflect Him well wherever they go. And it is for this reason that He often has to discipline those who belong to Him. The process is often not enjoyable. However, there are certain important factors you must keep in mind.

The Lord reserves His discipline for a very unique set of people. Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, /because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. It is only His children that He will actively correct and invest time in training. He does this because His objective is to get that person to heaven. As such, He must inform them of what they do wrong and even institute punishment, when needed, to train them to make better choices in the future.

It is easy to hate God and complain about Him when you lack the perspective to understand why certain things are happening. It is easy to listen to the lying voice of satan saying that the difficulties came because God doesn't love you. The devil is a liar, and God loves you more than you realize. Also, it is best to agree with God rather than satan, so ask God to reveal what He is doing in your life so you hear from the Creator Himself and not the counterfeit.

A proper outlook and wisdom are necessary when God is using discipline to develop you. Pay attention so you don't miss certain patterns and thereby don't ignore something God is teaching. In Jeremiah 32, for instance, the Lord explained how the ancient Israelites had ignored His warnings to repent of their spiritual adultery and other iniquity.

He shared how He'd used creative techniques all in an effort to get them to focus on what He was warning them about. Yet, it was all to no avail. Jeremiah 32:33 - They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. The people were so stiff-necked that they ignored His pleading with them to change. In the end, both the northern and southern kingdoms fell to their enemies, and the people were dispersed to live as captives in foreign nations instead of the land that was their promised inheritance.

This is what can happen when God's people resist and resent the discipline He sends to correct them and get them back on track. Or the discipline He uses to fine-tune them for His purpose. They end up rejecting what He's doing in them. You do not want this to happen to you. Allow God to use discipline, if He so chooses, as a means to build you for His purpose.

Yes, discipline isn't enjoyable, but when you remember that He disciplines only His children, you can thank Him for deeming you worthy of correction. You can praise Him for taking the time to steer you right. Whatever you do, never be like King Asa. God lovingly sent Prophet Hanani to correct him for breaking faith and operating in fear (2 Chronicles 16). Instead of heeding correction, Asa imprisoned the prophet and never repented for disbelieving in God. He died from a foot disease that God could have healed had he cried out for help. All because he lacked humility and walked in pride, unwilling to change.

Rather, we should be like King David, who, when confronted by God's prophet with his sins of adultery and murder, humbled himself (2 Samuel 12). He repented before the Lord in fasting, prayers, and tears. All because of the reverence he had for the Lord. As a result, he retained the privilege of his great relationship with God, who said He was pleased with him. Going on to speak boldly about how the Lord cared for him and his household.

This is what God wants for you. He wants you to be the sort of person He can discipline. An individual who can be corrected when you sin. The child He can mold for His purpose, so you will be fruitful for Him and enjoy His rewards. Allow Him to chasten and yield to Him when He reveals sin in your life. When this happens, repent for depriving Him of His glory through sin and thank Him for the loving discipline of a good and true Father.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

Reasons Not To Backslide - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) July 10, 2026

P L U N D E R E R

Jul 10

4 min read

Being a Christian isn't always easy when many have rejected organized religion in general. Plus, the world's values are different from those espoused in the Bible, adding another layer of complexity. There are also spiritual consequences for selecting Christ. One is that satan will attack, trying to convince a person that they made the wrong choice. This and more are to be expected since Jesus told believers to expect suffering for following Him.

Yet true disciples of Christ push through the adversity, convinced that God's concerns and promises are worth the discomfort. Sadly, many Christians eventually walk away from the narrow path, unable to persevere and wait, both of which are part of God's becoming and building process. The reasons for this are numerous, but frankly, this message isn't about those who have turned away from God. It is about you and the reasons why you shouldn't.

While some can be convinced that backsliding isn't a big deal, please do not be fooled. Psalm 18:20-24 states that a person who doesn't turn from God will be rewarded for their righteousness. They will receive help in their time of trouble and be spared the harm that befalls others. This is why, for instance, the Israelites in Egypt knew to mark their doors with blood before the firstborn sons of that land were wiped out (Exodus 12).

For those who continue walking with the Lord, He will cleanse them, turning their darkness to light (Psalm 18:28). This was the experience of High Priest Joshua (not to be confused with Joshua, the Judge). Although the devil thought it had ensnared him, the Lord overruled, replacing the priest's filthy garments with clean ones. Whatever spiritual difficulty the priest had, the Lord showed mercy, cleansed and restored Joshua, declaring him his servant (Zechariah 3).

Being loyal to God gives a person certain 'rights.' Think of King Hezekiah, who, when told that death was imminent, boldly declared in Isaiah 38:3 - “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. He didn't claim perfection, but he asserted that he'd faithfully followed God. As a result, the Lord honored him with an extra 15 years.

Prophet Ezekiel made a similar pronouncement, stating, "I have never defiled myself," when the Lord gave him an instruction that he believed was contrary to the Laws of Moses (Ezekiel 4:14). He could speak so confidently because he was intentional about observing God's laws. He knew he had never backslidden and was hesitant to do something that could be considered as such.

David could speak boldly of his relationship with God because he, too, knew he hadn't turned away from the Lord. He said in 2 Samuel 23:5 - If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. Despite the sins of murder and adultery, the Lord called him pleasing and blessed his generations.

We too can reap the rewards that come from not turning away from God. This doesn't mean we won't sin or make mistakes. What matters is that we listen to His Holy Spirit, taking correction and repenting when necessary. We also have to do the things that build a relationship with the Lord, such as studying and applying His Word, loving others, deliberately walking in the fear of the Lord, and avoiding the habits that lead to sinning against God or people.

As we do these and whatever else He tells us, the world's ability to lead our flesh astray lessens and the risk of backsliding drops. As we remain committed to honoring and serving the Lord in humility, our 'Godfidence' grows. We too enjoy the many benefits of being His children, such as His peace, provision, and wisdom that defies logic.

There are many reasons to be mindful not to backslide, but when we stumble, Jesus purchased for us the right to repent, receive the Lord's forgiveness, and have our dirty clothing replaced with clean white ones. Like King Hezekiah, we can cry out to the Lord and know that our voice will be heard. And we will know that our final destination will be heaven, where we will reside with our King, His Son, and the rest of the heavenly household.

Join us for Praise & Pray (for others) today. It starts at 12 Noon EST and lasts an hour. It is a time for us to honor the Lord with worship, intercession for others, and focus on how we can become better children of God. If you are reading this now, think of two to three people who need prayer in your life and come ready to seek the face of God on their behalf. God bless you.

As you await fellowship, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

Topic: Mercy

P L U N D E R E R

Jul 9

1 min read