Verse of the Day - Lamentations 3:27-29

And it is good for the young to submit to the yoke of [God's] discipline. Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD's demands. Let them lie face down in the dust; then at last there is hope for them.
~ Lamentations 3:27-29 (NLT)

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When you see your teen or grandteen heading for trouble, getting mixed up in stuff you know isn't good for them, your first reaction is to banish them to their room til they're 30! But, you know, sometimes sheltering them from all of their folly isn't so helpful to them. Until they see and hear and feel, firsthand, the consequences of their selfishness and rebellion, they just may not get it. You can preach sermons all day long to people, but if they haven't felt the sting of the sin of themselves for themselves, you may feel you're talking to a wall. Seems to be the way we're wired in all our sinfulness.

But God knows. He knows where our head and heart are at. He knows what we're thinking and planning. And most importantly, He knows what we need in order to get us on our knees before Him...finally...in humility and surrender.

And when we finally do, it is good. It is best. It's the only place to be in the spiritual realm, face down before God.

The gifts on an altar that God wants are a broken spirit. O God, You will not hate a broken heart and a heart with no pride. ~ Psalm 51:17 (NLV)

O man, He has told you what is good. What does the Lord ask of you but to do what is fair and to love kindness, and to walk without pride with your God? ~ Micah 6:8 (NLV)

And the beauty of God is that, when we get hit over the head with our self-made consequences and finally come to Him with a humble heart, He doesn't gloat over us as we sit in the ash heap. He doesn't say, I told you so, rubbing our noses in our foolishness. He is LOVE...fully and completely. And He embraces those who submit to His sovereign authority, as a Father hugs on His kids whom He loves.

But He gives us more loving-favor. For the Holy Writings say, "God works against the proud but gives loving-favor to those who have no pride." (Proverbs 3:34) So give yourselves to God.~ James 4:6-7 (NLV)

His way is best, and ultimately, we all have to acknowledge it. Some listen by simply hearing the truth and obeying; others...and that's probably most of us...need the teaching tool of consequences to break through our pride and foolishness. But, however we get to God's throne of grace, it is the path of blessing. No other place is safe. No other place will satisfy. I know, because I've "been there, done that." Did the rebellion thing, did the ash heap thing. God knew what I needed, so I'm thankful for the mistakes I was allowed to make, because God used them to change my life.

Love,
Joelene