Proverbs 3:1-12 (KJV)
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Parents discipline their children because the love them and want a good life for them.
GOD’s love is even greater and He wants a good life for His Children. Therefore He will also correct us when we wander off and do what is not right.

“Hebrews 12:5-13 (KJV) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? [8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. [9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. [11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

How does the chastening of the LORD look like? It is when we read scriptures or hear preaching that bring correction to what we have done or are doing. When this fails things will get harder in life, things will go wrong, and it will get more severe the more we harden our hearts till we are at the rock bottom. During that time the LORD keeps calling us back and convicting us.

How are we to handle the discipline that comes from GOD? We are not to despise it but rather take it to heart. We are to realise that He loves us. When we realise we sinned and at the first sign of discipline we should repent, ask GOD to forgive us, ask Jesus Christ to help us overcome.

Therefore be encouraged and know that if you are disciplined by GOD that He loves you and you are His child (otherwise he would not chastise you). Then:

• Humble yourself,
• Submit to GOD
• Call on Him,
• Turn towards GOD and away from the sin that He is dealing with you,
• Draw near to Him,
• Resist the devil.

“Matthew 6:12-15 (KJV) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

“James 4:7-10 (KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

For the study of the other verses refer to:
V1-2: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/13/remembering-gods-word-2025-01-13/
V3-4: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/14/sticking-with-mercy-and-truth-2025-01-14/
V5: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/15/trusting-the-lord-2025-01-15/
V6: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/16/acknowledge-the-lord-2025-01-16/

V7-8: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/17/gods-wisdom-2025-01-17/

V9-10: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/18/honour-god-2025-01-18/

V11-12: https://missioncommunities.network/2025/01/19/disciplined-by-god-2025-01-19/