Correction

God visits with His correction.  NOT something we always like.  We want the encouraging warm and fuzzy pats on the head.  Well that ain't happening here!!

I confess, I have a critical and judgmental nature.  I've known this a long time, and have confessed and prayed and tried and cried about it many a time.  And God has brought it up to me once, no, twice again this week.  My reading for church on Sunday was.....yes you guessed it on judging...ugh!!

Matthew 7:1-5  Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  (scary!!!)  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite (just what we all want to hear Jesus say to us), first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  

Then yesterdays devotional reading from "My Utmost for His Highest" was, yes once again I'm sure you guessed it, on judging!!  It was entitled, "The Uncritical Temper."  And the verse it was based on.....hmmmmm, lets guess again...Matt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.  Oswald Chambers went on to say, "Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism."  He also said, "It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person."  Well, that ranks right up there with hypocrite as a oh so complimentary description of a person, right?  LOL

Ok, so now, you may think I would be feeling pretty low with all this correction coming my way from the Lord.  But no.  I do not.  I am a sinner, and I confess my sins.  But I am also a daughter and my Father knows all about me and loves and forgives me.  So I am a grateful child.  The Bible tells me that discipline and correction prove I am His child.  And it's so funny, because the God visit continues, not only did I receive correction, I received comfort from the Joyce Meyer podcast today in that she was speaking about this very idea.  God corrected, then God reassured and comforted.  Our God is an awesome God!!

Hebrews 12:5-7, 10-11  And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:  "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lost heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and he punishes everyone He accepts as  a son."  endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father?...Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  

So I am thankful.  And I move forward.  And I continue in prayer and continue to work with the Holy Spirit to remove this propensity to sin from my character. And
another verse from my reading on Sunday?  Matt 7:7-8  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.  I know that God will change this seemingly fixed habit in my life.  I know He will deliver.

Lord, I submit to You in this area.  And I ask for Your forgiveness.  I am thankful that You are so loving to bring correction, so kind to forgive and so patient to continue on with me even when I fail at the same things so often.  Please take this flaw from my heart and replace it with a spirit of love and mercy that will glorify You.