Devotional for Discipline

Merriam-Webster describes discipline as training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.

That is why we discipline as parents, right?

We want our children to obey the rules, directions, and expectations we have set for them, ultimately helping them develop moral character and become successful adults.

(If that is not your reasoning for disciplining your children, I ask, in love, that you examine your heart.)

It is also most effective to make discipline a natural consequence, so that your children link the result to the behavior they chose. Choosing a consequence that is entirely unrelated to the negative behavior is not beneficial for our children to remember in the future.

Now here's the crux about discipline that parents don't often acknowledge. Who actually is in charge of whether discipline takes place?

Our children! Think about it. If our children are obeying, then we don't need to discipline them. And when they choose to abide, we don't keep adding more discipline after the initial consequence.

Friends, this is the same with our Heavenly Father. Discipline takes place when we are not obeying and abiding by all aspects of our lives. When we correct our behavior and our heart, the discipline stops. Our Heavenly Father is just and merciful.

This is also an important time to note that discipline and trials are different. A trial is a test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something.

So why are we disciplined by God? Because He wants us to obey the rules, directions, and expectations He has laid before us to ultimately help us have moral character and become successful adults to glorify Him and share His message with others.

He wants what's best for us, and He knows more than us what is best!

How many times have you said that to your children?! With God, this is infinitely more true!

We also have the ability to stop the discipline, as our children can. Repent and obey! Obedience has a pretty bad reputation in our society, but it is usually out of pride and selfishness that we choose not to.

And no one likes discipline—whether we’re the child receiving it or the adult feeling God’s loving correction. That doesn’t make you rebellious; it makes you human. The incredible news? God’s discipline isn’t punishment for the saved—it’s loving training for His deeply loved children. Jesus already took the punishment we deserved. Now every hard thing is Fatherly shaping, never rejection.

And remember, we also have God's love. Our behaviors do not determine whether we are saved. Good behavior and acts cannot get us to heaven. That is only through the faith and grace of Jesus that we are saved.

So it is out of love that God disciplines us to help us become the people He created us to be!

In marriage and family life, God’s loving discipline looks like:

The hard conversation that exposes pride but leads to deeper oneness
Financial pressure that teaches you to trust Him together instead of money
Seasons of parenting struggle that drive you both to your knees
Consequences that feel painful but produce humility, repentance, and sweeter intimacy
Learning to receive correction from your spouse as God’s kindness, not attack

Take the time to read the Bible scriptures below and truly focus on what they are saying to you. Some passages may touch you differently than others. Writing down the verses in your own hand is helpful for some individuals. Possibly looking up the verses in your Bible may be beneficial. I use a NIV bible translation. Or reading them over and over to commit to memory. Whatever method works best for you to experience God’s words and feel closer to Him.

Hebrews 12: 5-6

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Hebrews 12:10-11

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order 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.

Psalm 94:12

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law;

Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Deuteronomy 8:5

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord, your God disciplines you.

Revelation 3:19-20

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Here's a short prayer if you are struggling to find the words:

Father, this hurts. I don't like feeling Your discipline, and I’m tempted to run or blame. Thank You that You discipline the children You love, and that Jesus already took my punishment. Soften my heart to receive Your training as love. Show my spouse and me the area You’re shaping right now. Help us repent quickly, obey joyfully, and trust that the peaceful fruit is coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Try one of these today:

Ask God (and your spouse if needed), ‘What are You trying to teach me in this hard thing right now?’
Confess one specific area of disobedience today—no excuses—and thank God that His discipline proves you’re His child.
Pray Hebrews 12:11 together: ‘Lord, produce Your harvest of righteousness and peace in us.’

I pray that this post helps you to evaluate the areas of your life that you feel you are being disciplined in. Remember, you are in control of your behaviors and responses.

God bless!

Melissa