Advent Devo - Day 13

Verse: Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

Meditation: To inflict a small amount of pain purposefully on a child in order to keep them from the future pain (or even death) that foolish living will bring is a service to the child. In other words, do not let a child have his way because it is unpleasant to you to discipline them.

Prayer: Father, none likes discipline, and no parent enjoys disciplining their children. Please, Lord, grant to us the fortitude and the foresight to bring loving discipline upon these, our children—for their sake. And please, Lord, let them take to discipline quickly, not like a horse is led with bit and bridle. For we are a stubborn people by nature. Grant us grace. Amen.