Counsel and Correction

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. – (Proverbs 19:20, NIV) 

Listen to advice and accept discipline; then you, too, will become wise. – (Proverbs 19:20, ERV) 

Take good counsel and accept correction – that’s the way to live wisely and well. – (Proverbs 19:20, MSG) 

Not one of us has it so together that we do not have room to grow. Advice and correction are ways that we have the opportunity to do better and be better. The challenge is that we must be willing to listen and apply the wisdom that is passed on to us, as we ever pursue more of God and His will for our lives. It is important to invest time in the word and in prayer, as well as finding wise and trustworthy people, whom we can go to when we need advice and allow room for correction in spaces where we are off-course. This is where community is so important. We must know others and be known in order to both give and receive good counsel as we ever pursue all that God has for us. I am blessed to be long-invested in a church community that is rich in wise people who have more life experience than I do. They have navigated the road before me, and have successfully traversed treacherous and trying times. I have a few trusted individuals that are my go-to people when I have a question or concern, or simply need to hear a voice of reason. Always we ought to go to God first, however, it is no accident that we discover people around us who are willing and equipped to give sound advice. May we ever seek the Lord for wisdom, correction and redirection, and allow trusted voices the opportunity to speak truth into our lives. 

We all need advice, 

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To live this life well; 

Graciously given, 

For truth good compels. 

The word of the Lord, 

And seeking His face; 

Are ways to improve, 

How we run our race. 

For it’s not a sprint, 

But a marathon; 

Keep moving forward, 

Let wisdom lead on. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not expect us to have it all together, nor navigate this life alone. Thank You that wise counsel and direction are found in Your word and through the people that You intentionally place in our lives. Forgive us for the times that we have either attempted to run our race alone, or have neglected to listen to the correction or direction that we need to keep pressing on well. Teach us to trust You and trust those around us who are intentional in their pursuit of You. Show us how to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead, correct and direct us, and allow others to speak truth into our lives. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present 

Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your Name lead and guide me. – Psalm 31:3

You Make Me Strong

I love You, Lord; You are my strength. – (Psalm 18:1, NLT)

Lord, how I love You! For You have done such tremendous things for me. – (Psalm 18:1, TLB)

I love You, God – You make me strong. – (Psalm 18:1, MSG)

 

Though I am quite sad to have missed practice last night, I know that the rest my body received as a result, has made a difference. This morning as I woke, my throat no longer hurt, and I know that the sleep that was desperately needed, was granted at last. I appreciate how God uses the people whom we trust most, to be the voice of reason. Both my fiancée and best friend worked in cahoots to convince me to stay home and rest. His love surrounds me, and His strength renews me. Gratitude and love flood my heart and mind, as I think of the tremendous things He has done for me. Not only in these small things to get through each day when I am fighting sickness, but throughout my life, as He has been my strength for all of my days. The Lord is good, and I am grateful. May we ever seek the Lord, who is our strength, and tell Him of the love we have for Him who provides and guides throughout all of our days.

 

I love You, O Lord,

For all You have done;

The strength that You give,

The battles You’ve won.

Your grace and Your love,

Make me strong enough;

To rise and press on,

When life seems too tough.

All love and all thanks,

I lift unto You;

As You make me strong,

By Your grace and truth.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strength and You do tremendous things for us. Lord we love You and give You all honor and praise. Forgive us for not seeking You to be our strength in our need. Teach us to trust You more, as You show us the way we are meant to go and empower us to do all that You ask. Show us how to love those around us in the same way that You love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You with our lives and praise You for the strength that You grow in us each new day. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6

When Dreams May Come

Joseph, son of Jacob, had a clear call upon his life from an early age.  He was given dreams that spoke to his heart, and made him aware that greater things were yet to come.  When he attempted to share what he had seen with his brothers, their jealousy got the best of them, and they plotted to kill him.  Fortunately, among them was a voice of reason, and they were instead, convinced to sell him to a band of merchants traveling past where they were watching their flocks.  (Genesis 37) 

Many of us, at that point, would have questioned the call we had heard on our lives, and perhaps would have sat down in defeat.  Not Joseph.  When he was purchased and placed in the home of Potiphar, an Egyptian official, Joseph served both household and home, as unto the Lord.  “Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.  Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” (Genesis 39:4) God had blessed Joseph and given him success.  However, again, envy placed Joseph in a situation he did not deserve.  Potiphar’s promiscuous wife made advances toward Joseph, yet each time he refused.  Ultimately, she found way to accuse Joseph and get him sent to jail, despite his innocence.

Again, life’s circumstances could have stolen Joseph’s will to walk in the way of the Lord.  Not even prison deterred him.  Before long, Joseph had found favor in the eyes of the prison warden, and was made responsible for all that was done there.  God continued to prove Himself faithful, even in seemingly unfortunate circumstance.

God continued to bless Joseph’s faithfulness, and granted him the interpretation of dreams.  Ultimately, his ability to hear God, granted him the second highest position in all of Egypt.  Though it had been a long and weary road, the Lord had been faithful to remain present, and Joseph never doubted nor questioned His presence. (Genesis 40 and 41)

When dreams come to light,

let heart not be swayed;

His promise remains,

no matter delay.

Trust He is faithful,

despite where you are;

for He is present,

even when life’s hard.

Hold onto the hope,

that shall come to pass;

for what He has said,

will forever last.

Always He is good,

even when life’s not;

forge forward in faith,

with all that you’ve got.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples that You have given us in Your word.  Thank You that despite overwhelming circumstances – situations that would have broken most of us – You show us how You are forever faithful; that we must remain steadfast in our trust in You.  Thank You that You alone can take something so terrible as an individual sold into slavery by his own brothers, and turn it into a man of mighty faith who leads a nation in how to overcome a horrendous famine successfully.  Thank You that You can work ALL things for good for those who love You, even when it appears there is no possible good to be found.  Forgive us for our fears and our lack of long-suffering, and help us to faithfully endure all things, trusting above all – that You are with us and You are good.  May we love as we are loved by You, and may many come to know the saving grace that only You can give.  Let lives be changed and hearts be made new in You.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.