How Do You Want Them to See Me?

With every fast comes a time for evaluation. The purpose of a fast is to draw near to God and bring into focus our flesh that so quickly influences our behaviors. For myself, fasting is the most significant time of revelation and application. This year, God has spoken to me with His gentle hand of correction. On one occasion in prayer, the Lord took me to a time when I was correcting my children. Did they need discipline? Yes, but the Lord, let me see from a position standing behind them. I was able to see my face, tone, and harsh correcting. I immediately broke, but then the Holy Spirit asked a question I will not forget; “Is this how you want them to see me?” I was justified in my correction, and they had not listened the first time, but this is not how I want them to view their Heavenly Father or how I want them to see me as their earthly Father. My duty as their father is to raise them to be Christ-like, and I will correct behaviors, but I will use the Holy Spirit, not my flesh. I will correct them in Love and teach them how to properly view their Heavenly Father.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.

Pastor Benaiah Snider