Three D

Discernment and discipline will help your heart stay devoted to God. His light will rise within your heart as you let His Word produce a harvest.

“Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire…he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’ ” The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”…a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel…“Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.” “But who will do this?” asked Ahab….“The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.”…The king of Israel advanced and overpowered…the Arameans. Afterward, the prophet…said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”…“Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’ ” The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”…“This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’” 1 Kings 20:1-42

God wants to give you complete victory in your life over sin that entangles and enemies that attack. His plans are not for partial wins and halfhearted gains. He wants you to see that He is the Lord. He wants you to know that all things are possible with Him.

Look at this story. Ahab, the king of Israel, is outnumbered and offers to surrender. The man of God carries the Word of God, and that word is victory. When Ahab listens to and obeys God, he is unstoppable. When he makes a peace treaty, settles for a partial victory, and allows Ben-Hadad to live, he forfeits the blessing God gave of peace for his nation.

How does this relate to us today? God’s plan for your life is complete victory through the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s plan is for you to produce a great crop of righteousness by allowing the seed of His Word to produce a harvest. Yet many of us settle for less than God’s best and surrender before we claim victory. Have you prepared your heart to produce a righteous crop?

“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.’ The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.” Psalms 11:1-7

Do you believe in the power of God? David asked us why we flee or fear if we believe that God is our refuge. This question is as relevant now as it was then. Nothing impacts our lives in a negative way as much as fear does. How is fear impacting you?

David said God sees everything and knows the heart of everyone. He is looking for people whose hearts align with His. He loves justice and righteousness. David said the upright will see His face. Do you want to see God’s face? Pay attention, listen, do the next thing that honors Him, and you will see Him.

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion…For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey…Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave…listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, ‘How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!’…Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth…For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die.” Proverbs 5:1-23

Solomon received these words of wisdom from God and allowed the words to shape how he lived. He said discernment, devotion, and discipline will direct your steps toward everlasting life. These three will enhance your relationships and protect you from walking in the way of the wicked that leads to death. How well do you embrace instruction and correction? Are you open to feedback?

Solomon said to watch out for the ways in which you are tempted. We live in a world full of temptation. It is everywhere. Solomon said temptation starts with simple, seductive words that seem harmless but will steal your joy and ensnare your heart. How are you tempted? Are you a person who is grateful and content with what God has given you? Are you comparing yourself to others? Do you find yourself desiring what you do not have?

Discernment is the ability to see what is best. Discipline is the commitment to doing what is best by doing what is right each moment of each day. Devotion is the driver. Everything starts in your heart. Every decision to take the time to discern, stay disciplined, and stay true to God begins in your heart. Our world and the enemy want to divide your heart so that you desire things other than God. Devotion says, Lord, You alone are all I need and all I want. What is the state of your heart today?

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Lift up your eyes and look about you…Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come…Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold…I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land…you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” Isaiah 60:1-22

Understand that God sees you and knows you. The reason He says to lift up your eyes and look is because He knows that we have a tendency to look down. It is so easy to focus on what we want or worry about what we do not have. God wants to change your focus and lift your eyes to Jesus.

All your worries about wealth will disappear as you learn to live a life in awe and wonder of the Holy One, Jesus Christ. He said He will be your everlasting light. God wants to make you shine as you invite the Holy Spirit in. It is so easy to get caught up wondering when God is going to answer your prayers. Worry can displace worship very quickly in our hearts. God says to trust Him. His timing is perfect. In His time, He moves swiftly.

Think of how Solomon gave us wisdom and words that relate to this passage. As we discern, live with discipline, and devote our lives to God, the light of Christ will light up our lives. Our worry will fade away. We can have walls of salvation and gates of praise. If our walls are salvation and God is our refuge, why would we fear or flee? We won’t. We will stand firm on a solid foundation and be set free to worship our Savior.

“While a large crowd was gathering…he told this parable…The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop…No one lights a lamp and hides it…Instead, they put it on a stand…My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake…and they were in great danger…“Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm…As Jesus was on his way…a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped…While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead”…Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.” Luke 8:4-55

Do you have the faith to fix your eyes on Jesus? Are you devoted to Him? Do not miss all the miracles of the Gospels. Just because you have read one of these stories before does not mean you should be any less amazed by His power. Put yourself in the story and imagine Him bringing you healing because that is what He does in our lives. He calms the storms and calls us by name. Have you given Him all authority in your life, or are you allowing thorns to grow where they should not? Thorns of worry, wealth, and the world. Jesus wants to give you complete victory and show you that with Him all things are possible.

The Word is the seed, and your heart is the soil. Hear His Word, hold on to it, and put it into practice. Do not allow fear, worry, temptation, or the desires of this world to choke out what God is doing in and wants to do through you. Stay devoted. Practice discernment. Choose discipline. Keep your eyes on Jesus and trust Him when the storm comes. The same Jesus who calmed the wind, healed the woman, and raised the little girl is with you. There is no situation beyond His power and no heart beyond His reach.

The good news is none of this is done in our own strength. We do not plant the seed; He does. We do not produce the harvest; He does. We simply make room for the Holy Spirit and surrender control to Jesus. Will your prayer be, less of me, more of You, Lord? Will you say, shine in my heart and show me the way? Do not settle for anything less than what God has for you, for His plans and timing are perfect. In His time, He will move swiftly. So look up and let your light shine that others might see and glorify God.