The Twigs of Correction

Reposted from November 2023

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Romans 13:12

It’s a new day.
God wants to be thoroughly involved in your day.

Sometimes I wake up and start my morning without thanking God for the new day…then I remember and sheepishly thank Him.

After all, God isn’t my butler.
It’s not His job to bless me and serve me…it’s my duty, and privilege, to bless Him and serve Him.

But I can’t serve Him well if I’m living in darkness. If my thoughts, words, and actions are entangled in darkness, then my day will be spiritually stagnant and possibly painful.

When I was young, my friends and I would run through the pine tree stands at night, flying down row after row in the moonlight. It was foolish, but it was fun.

I distinctly remember the night when I ran straight into a pine branch and caught a twig in the eye. The impact caused a bright white light followed by unbelievable pain. I didn’t stop to ask where the light came from, I was too busy writhing on the ground in agony.

If we harbor secret sin in life, then spiritual darkness can creep in and live for years undetected by anyone.

But God knows.
And as we run through the darkness, thoroughly convinced that we’re smarter than God and able to handle our sin, we never see the twig prepared to get our attention.

That twig stopped me in my tracks that night.
That little twig made me cry.
That twig stopped my running through the darkness.
That twig etched a memory in my brain that is still vivid decades later.

Let’s just be honest with God today.
If you’re struggling with sin, admit it.
(1 John 1:9)
If your prayer life stinks, ask Him to help you pray. He wants to help. (Luke 11:1-4)

Today is unlike any other day and is filled with opportunities.
We’re either running for God today or just running for ourselves.

It’s far better to put on the Armor of Light and run for the Lord.
God has “twigs of correction” prepared for His kids who venture off on their own…and those can be quite painful.

The clock is ticking.
Cast off your sin.
Let’s go run for God today!