Lent leads to Necessary Discipline

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. God prepared me for the lenten season by actually suprising me on Tuesday with a healing service I went to at church actually being an Ash Wednesday service. It was beautiful to sit and listen to song, scripture and the pure voice of God - telling me that He wants me to be a different person. Sacrifice, surrender, committment ... the lenten season is always an incredible time for me. And I cannot even explain in words how excited I am that God has brought this week upon me, to show me more of how I need to live today and where I need to step tomorrow.

This scripture [Hebrews 12] was read at the service on Tuesday, and I hope it is an amazing reminder to you, as it was to me.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 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 lose 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? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 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. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.