40 Days of Amazing Love – A love letter from God -Day 22 INSTRUCTION PROSPERS
DAILY DEVOTION
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD (Proverbs 16:20, NIV). Whoever loves [instruction] discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1, NIV). If you love me, keep my commands (John 14:15, NIV)."
REFLECTION
His promises are for those who believe in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
What does it mean to take heed to instructions?
The late Dr. Vernon McGee described instruction as the ability to teach by discipline. God uses discipline to train us to do the right thing. Parents provide instructions to their children to discipline them to do the right thing (Proverbs 22:6).
Well, you may ask, “What is the right thing”? The right thing is whatever God says is the right thing. God has revealed himself and his way to us in his Word (Psalm 18:30); therefore, the right thing is doing things God’s way.
The right thing is making choices, decisions (judgement), using discretion, and living by God’s principles to guide us. The right thing is taking heed to his instructions.
God promises prosperity to all those who take heed to his instructions. Most of us want prosperity and blessings but we do not want to take heed to God’s instructions (teaching by discipline). Instead of doing what's right, we choose to do what's easy.
Discipline is the path between God’s way [instruction] and God’s promises [prosperity and blessings]. Discipline is a prescribed method to teach and train to either avoid or undo foolishness).
What does discipline look like?
Discipline means…
exercising self-control.
adhering to teaching and training to change our behaviors.
regulating our thoughts to change the course of our actions.
using our God-given intelligence renewed common sense to change directions when we know we are going the wrong way.
establishing order in our lives.
respecting authority [God, parents, bosses, church leaders, educators, and government].
practicing the desired behavior until it becomes a natural response.
forsaking our way for God’s way.
Instruction plus practicing the desired behavior until it becomes a natural habit yields prosperity and blessings. Let’s fall in love with God’s instructions to demonstrate our love to him.
PRAYER DIRECTIVE
Ask the Lord to reveal to you ways you can reflect his love to others.
~inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Pastor Sean and Dr. Regina Daigre