John Bradshaw - Discipline
One of the most important parts of parenting is discipline, loving parents discipline, lovingly; God is the same.
In Deuteronomy 8 God speaks about leading Israel in the wilderness to reveal what was in their hearts, verse 5 says, "You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you".
That word chasten means to instruct or to discipline, not in a vindictive harsh way but in an educational sense. If you got a dog, you train it and teach it to obey. Children aren't to be left to raise themselves and in the same way, God wants to discipline or instruct you; so, when something challenges you, ask God what he might be trying to teach you, how he might be trying to grow. Opportunities to learn and grow in the Lord come every day, taking those opportunities is what really matters. I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written.