Receiving Kind Correction
welcome to a by the daily Christian meditations I'm Tyler boss today I'd like to invite you to try the number one Christian meditation app abide is that word alone abide or to remain in Christ is why I love this app so much it continually encourages me to remain in my Creator which helps me grow in so many ways and I hope you find that same encouragement as well you can text abide to 22433 for 25% off the abide app just text abide to 22433 now let's meditate and abide in Christ
welcome to this abide meditation I'm Tyler boss
do you remember how difficult and maybe even frustrating it was when you first learned a new skill
perhaps playing an instrument speaking a new language
did you have learned it without help from someone else
take a moment
to breathe deeply
slowing your heart rate
and studying your mind
did you think about that question
now think of a time you didn't learn a new skill
because you didn't have anyone there to teacher guide you
learning to draw closer to God is similar in a way
we need others to help us see our blind spots
Psalm 141 verse 5 David Longs for the kind guidance and feedback that will help him grow spiritually
even if it means exposing painful truths
he says
Let The Godly strike me
it will be a kindness
if they correct me it is soothing medicine
don't let me refuse it
who do you have speaking truth into your life
if you didn't come up with a name
I know that God would bring someone into your life
it will give you spiritual guidance
it's not easy for any of us to hear hard truths about our weaknesses
what how far we have to go
our pride wants to hold us back
but when you find the courage to find trusted guidance they can help you grow in ways we could never imagine
you have nothing to fear from the truth
and everything to gain
let's pray together Lord
thank you for loving me unconditionally
I really confessed it often I resist truly growing in you
because it's easier just to stick with what I know
and to admit I'm wrong
it's easier to pretend I'm okay
then admit how desperately I need your healing
help me to trust you enough to surrender my pride
help me to rest in your peace in this journey of walking and growing with you
amen
finding humility in being at peace with opening yourself up to change and be pretty tricky can it
the second few moments now to practice resting in God with a trusting heart
did you take some slow
deep breaths picture your breath
that's God's spirit in you
holding you
comforting you
and giving you strength
listening to the counsel of others requires humility
a willingness to admit that you might be wrong
letting God cleanse you from sin requires humility as well
because it means admitting your faults
bring to God anything that needs to be confessed to him today so that you might continue your time with him without anything holding you back
while the Holy Spirit
is our ultimate teacher and guide
God created us to need others
will you allow other godly people to speak into your life
listen closely to Psalm 141 verse five in the new international version
with the righteous man strike me
that is a kindness
let him rebuke me that is oil on my head
my head will not refuse it
for my prayer will still be against the deed of evildoers
does anything stand out to you from this passage
perhaps a phrase that can fix
startles or even comforts
listen carefully once more
Let the righteous man strike me
that is a kindness
let him rebuke me that is only along my head
my head will not refuse it
from my prayer will still be against the Deeds of evildoers
how do you feel when someone you respect as a fellow follower of Jesus
corrects or rebukes you
sometimes we resist correction because of criticism we've experienced in the past
which is merely a personal attack
oh my God be inviting you today to be more vulnerable and seeking healthy accountability
listen again as I read the first part of Psalm 141 5 in the New Living Translation
Let The Godly strike me
it will be a kindness
if they correct me it is soothing medicine
don't let me refuse it
there once was a shipwreck because a small piece of metal from a broken knife was left in a compass
that metal hold the compass off its true reading
resulting in the ships running aground
a slight deviation if left uncorrected
can result in great devastation
ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any deviation in your heart
it may need correction
it might be hard to hear correction from someone you know who isn't perfect
but isn't that everybody
ask God to soften your heart so that others might help you correct your course when they see something leading you astray
sometimes we feel God leading us to give correction to someone else
what are some steps he might ask for you to take in your own life before you approach your friend
listen carefully as I read Psalm 141 verse 5 one last time from the New Living Translation
Let The Godly strike me
it will be a kindness
if they correct me it is soothing medicine
don't let me refuse it
imagine finding yourself in a murky swamp
Shoreline is merely yards away but with each attempt to step forward you find yourself sinking deeper
weeds tangle around your ankles
fuel that for a few moments
after struggling for a long time
you've barely moved in your body has sucked down past your waist
suddenly a stranger appears on the shore shouting and pointing urgently at a spot in the water just a foot away from you
are you willing to listen to their counsel
you decide to take the risk
and do what they say
relief washes through you as you find yourself stepping onto a flat Solid Rock
but you couldn't see from your Vantage Point
new strength and hope fill you as you hear the stranger's voice guiding you to safety
how do you feel
have you felt God's rescue from such a desperate situation did he use someone else in your life to help rescue you
to help point you in the right direction
spend some time thanking God for his Deliverance
Lord thank you that no matter how dark things feel around me or inside me
your spirit reaches out
sometimes through your people
sometimes through a still small voice calling in my heart
forgive me
for the pride that keeps me from seeking out Godly guidance at times
I want to be soft hearted
and open to the guidance of other people
thank you for putting people in my life
help me draw closer to you
amen
if opportunity comes to receive constructive criticism from someone
try to take a deep breath and whispered to God to give you the right reaction
don't allow yourself to take it personally
but think of it as a gift
someone is taking time
to help you grow
until next time
may you abide in Christ