by Heather Bock
When I go through a period when the flame in my heart for Jesus is low, when I start going through the motions instead of clinging to Him, and when I sin and go against His Word, I expect God the Father to discipline me, to cause me to suffer.
I have some verses to back me up.
” ‘For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and he scourges every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? …For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:6-7, 10-11).
He does do this sometimes, causing us “sorrowful” times so we will be trained by it. I believe I lost my running (a pursuit that became too integral a part of my identity) for a while as a result of God’s discipline. I have no problem with this. Don’t I follow this very practice with my own children when they do wrong? If my daughter purposely hits my son with a hard object on his head, said object will be confiscated, especially if it is a favorite toy. I don’t mind too much when she starts screaming about the loss. I’m hoping those tears will teach a lasting lesson.
As a result, when God, my Father, chooses not to discipline me in this way and woos my sinful heart back to Him instead, I am overwhelmed and undone. I have a lot to learn as a mother to mimic this grace-filled way of drawing my wayward children to the right path. This is what He did for me during this past weekend at a conference I was blessed to attend and during the weeks that led up to it.
I already wrote some about the weeks preceding the conference here, how God gently drew me to an awareness of the state of my heart. In those weeks, He used the picture of a fire to show me that I needed the regular fuel of Bible study and prayer, and more, that I needed the bellows of the Divine Wind to blow the embers to flame. I prayed for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on me.
Glory to God, He answered. I expected Him to wait and kindle me anew at the conference I was planning to attend. After all, it was called LIT.
He didn’t want to wait. I went into LIT already lit.
Then He showered me to overflowing with His love and blessings, but this showering didn’t serve to quench the flame but to make it burn brighter. He showered me in many ways:
I already have several groups of beloved women who are willing to pray for me and who I pray for regularly–I recently wrote about them here. However, through the conference, I was given the gift of being connected to more amazing women, one of which even lives in the same small Texas town as I do.
He reinforced the lessons He had already started teaching me before the conference, lessons I plan to post about next week (God willing), letting me know that I don’t need a conference for Him to speak into my life. He can do it anytime and anywhere.
He clearly encouraged me to continue on with my writing and social media in a personal way that I can’t shake from my mind—I keep going back to it in awe.
I believe He promised and confirmed the promise of healing from a sin with which I’ve struggled for seven years. I really hope I heard Him right on this one!
He allowed me to be one of 750 women passionate for Jesus worshiping with all their hearts. I’ve never seen so much intense worship of God by so many people at the same time. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into Heaven.
My Father didn’t humble and draw me with discipline. He humbled and drew me with blessings.
What can I do but try to bless others with the overflow of what He’s given me? And what can I do but worship my sweet Father?
I can’t help but sing Chris Tomlin’s song, “Good, Good Father,” and I hope you’re able to visit him here and sing along, too.
Heather so wonderful! I have a lot of learning to love out of grace. A thankful that God lit your heart before the conference so it could just burnt brighter there and that is served as a tender reminder He is all you need and can draw you to Himself anytime. ❤️
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Thank you, Beccy! God is good!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thank you!
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You’re very welcome
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I have loved seeing all the posts about the LIT Conference. At 42, I was too old to attend!! Ha! Thanks for sharing how God has moved in your life. It’s such a good reminder that grace can be just as effective as discipline….so important with teenagers!
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Importany for younger ones, too. Grace has been so hard for me to understand and give, but God’s working on me!
I wish you could have gone to LIT, too. I barely made the cut-off myself!
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So glad you had a great time, Heather! Wish I could have gone to that conference. It sounds great!
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Thank you–I’m just glad God was so kind.
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I’m rejoicing with you, Heather! I’m glad the conference was a great experience. Thanks for sharing about our good, good Father.
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Thank you, Beckie! God is so kind!
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Thankful he is a good good Father, and I desire to give this same grace with others, especially as a mom. I’m pretty sure this supernatural equipping happens in the secret place. 😉. Thankful to have formed this community since LIT. ❤
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Yes, it definitely does happen in a secret place, and when I let go of that everyday walk, I start to go dry. I lose the grace I need to give to my kids. Thank you for these words!
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He really is so very good to us. Love seeing His love and your passion flor Him flow through your words!
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Thank you! His love brings me to love Him.
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This is beautiful, Heather! How amazing that God answered your prayer before you got to LIT! I love hearing how He showered you with blessings and grace. Romans 2:4- His kindness leads us to repentance. It melts me every time too! Thankful to “meet” a new sister and have our journeys connected and LIT on fire together!
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It overwhelmed me that He answered my prayer before LIT, too! Yes, Romans 2:4 describes it perfectly. I’m thankful to meet a new sister, too!
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Heather thank you for this. I’ve been weary and frazzled to say the least this last week after LIT. I have failed on so many accounts- coming on off that incredible experience has been rough in many ways. I am grateful for your words about God’s grace and needed the reminder that He is always patiently waiting for me. All of me, the good bad and the ugly. Thank you sister!
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Yes, it’s always hard going back to real life after an amazing conference like that, and LIT was one of the most amazing I’ve ever seen. I’m thankful He keeps taking me back, too.
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LIT was amazing and I’m right there with you. In many aspects, I can’t put words to what God did last Saturday. All I can say, is I left on fire for Jesus, my first love.
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That’s beautiful! I’m glad to hear it. He’s done the same in my heart.
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Loved meeting you at Lit, Heather. I received a similar message about my abiding sin issue while we worshiped last weekend. Hallelujah! He is doing a mighty work through this generation of women!
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Yes He is! Praise God that He did the same in your heart as He did in mine! I’m so glad I got to meet you, too. I wish I had been able to talk to you more.
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Heather, this is exciting. I love when the Lord won’t let it go- hearing a bit of your story and so many others’ at the conference this was reinforced and made such an impact on me. God doesn’t “leave us alone” about what He calls us to. Love it! Also- the worship!! Oh my word. Amazing. We attended a country concert last night, and he’s a great entertainer, but I kept closing my eyes and remembering the power of the worship last weekend, haha.
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Love it, too! And yes, the worship was so good–I really don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it. So thankful I got to be a part of it.
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I’m so thankful for this reminder of God’s love. Sometimes it looks different than we want it to, but He is so faithful to give us just what we need!
Blessings,
Jamie Taylor
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Yes, He is. I’m thankful, too! He truly is a good Father, and we can learn how to be a better parent by watching Him closely. It’s so beyond me, though!
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Oh how I have experienced this! How funny is it that I am quick to receive and accept his reprove but his lessons of grace and blessing can be more difficult to embrace, though often this is the greater undoing for me.
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Yes–somehow I understand the discipline better. I guess it’s the law-follower in me. May we all come to understand God’s grace!
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I love this song! And how awesome is it that God meets us each exactly the way we need Him to!
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Yes, how sweet He is! It’s amazing that the God of universe would care about each individual that way.
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I love this song! God is good he always brings everything all together.
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He amazes me every time! You’d think I wouldn’t be surprised by now!
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Lol o yes it’s just that he’s so wonderful the surprise is bigger every time 🙂
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Beautiful post! God is so good 🙂
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Thank you! And thank you for following–it means so much!
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