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Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 WEB.

While at school, I learned to read and write, add and subtract, and much more. However, it was often after school that the learning began for me. Dad would tell us: "That electric fence will shock you, so stay away from it." But a six-year-old can feel very smart, and I loved anything electric, or so I thought.

One day while trying to step over that electric fence, I found that he was right! For those of you who have never grabbed an electric fence, let's say it's something you will remember for a long time.

Some things we have to learn the hard way, then we understand. Actions speak louder than words, and this time I remembered it well. Now I fully understood that his instructions were meant to protect me from suffering unnecessary pain.

Often, the Lord will give us a little warning, and if we persist, He will let us go on our way. His word is there to protect us from harm, but He will not force us to obey it. If you want to avoid shocks, burns, and scratches, be quick to listen.

Yet even when we go ahead and do something foolish, He is there to pick us back up in His loving arms without even an: "I told you so" when we come to our senses. He is a loving Father who only wants the best for us, now if we only listen to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy on my life, for I am still breathing today. Please help me recognize when You are speaking to me, and give me the grace to be obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: For those interested, we have added small groups again to RHM! We are still getting started with our group list and features, but we invite you to check out the area and help us out with feedback and suggestions! As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network