Trust in the LORD with all your heartIt seems we frequently attempt to go our own way through life and only when utterly defeated do we turn (and run!) to the LORD. For then we realize it is pride, the enemy, which sent us skipping down those crooked paths, blindly bumping into danger at every turn, until finally, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, we remember the better way--leaning on and trusting in our loving Father-God, submitting to His ways, and being guided by Him.
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (or direct your paths). Proverbs 3:5-6
As the ultimate-parent, our Heavenly Father, loves us and always wants the best for us, (Romans 8:28)1. He tells us exactly what He expects of us, (Mark 12:30)2. He corrects and disciplines us (Hebrews 12:6)3 and He makes us aware of the consequences of rejecting Him (John 3:16-18)4. He is always consistent (Malachi 3:6a) 5, and He always keeps His promises (Isaiah 59:21)6.
Indeed, if we would follow God’s example as ultimate-parent the market for books on parenting would suffer greatly. For God’s actions throughout the Bible tell us everything we need to know about parenting.
As parents, we sometimes bemoan the fact that children don’t come with an instruction book; but the truth is all we need to do is read the Bible for the answers to our questions. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy—“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What better work is there than teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness future generations?
God Bless!
1 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
3 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.
4 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
5 I the LORD do not change.
6 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the LORD.
