A Prayer For Discipline

A prayer for Discipline

When I need a heart more open to God’s discipline

O merciful Father,

Like the people of Jerusalem in the days of the biblical prophets, I can stubbornly refuse to listen to you—or to anyone else—and ignore the correction that could help me. I don’t want to be like that! Please don’t let me rebel against you, O God. If I do, you may use adversity to get my reluctant attention. If discipline is necessary, help me to submit to it; for without your loving hand of correction, I could continue to stray until I no longer even hear your voice. May I always stay open to your discipline because I know it is done in love and not anger, in mercy and not vengeance. Be gentle, Lord, I pray, and grow in me a teachable, malleable heart that will eagerly learn from you.

Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions. Psalm 94:12