You Are Being Trained. Who is Your Trainer?
Had an interesting day today. It was one of those days that make you wonder, "What am I being trained for?"
Have you been there?
I know everything we do with a child is training. From teaching them to share, as a baby, to training them to get up with a good attitude as a teen.
No matter what we do we are teaching and training.
If we don't display a sharing attitude we will teach a child to be selfish. If we don't get up with a good attitude our teen won't see why they should.
Same goes for animals. Everything we do with a horse or a dog is training that animal regardless if it's a good attribute or not.
So, here are my questions:
Who are you allowing to train you?
Who are you allowing to train your children?
When my day got off, it made me think... "What is the Lord training me for?"
Is he working on my patience?
This one hits home.
I'm one of those people who stopped praying for patience because I really didn't want anymore of that training.
I know. If the training is to easy then your not getting the most out of it. Doing the same 5 jumping jacks will not help you reach your goal of getting stronger and more fit. You will need to increase the amount and throw in some harder activity.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
There is a purpose for "patience training".
Is he trimming away some things I'm to dependent on?
Again, not a very comfortable process but a very necessary process.
A tree or bush that does not have the " dead" or "diseased" branches cut off is at risk of losing it's very life. The dead branches can break off and cause more damage while the diseased branches can spread the disease to the healthy parts of the tree.
Are we holding on to things that have "died"?
Maybe friendships or jobs that had their season and now it's time to move on.
If we aren't willing to let go we could find ourselves holding on to tight and this could cause more harm than good.
Are we holding on to things that have disease?
“Disease? What do you even mean?” You may ask. Maybe it's what we listen to or watch. Maybe it's an attitude or opinion that is harming us or others.
Is he watering the seed so it will grow?
Growing pains can hurt.
Is he pruning me so I'll produce more fruit?
Sometimes a pruned tree or bush may “weep” for a bit until the raw edge starts healing.
Have I been through this test before?
There have been times I didn’t learn everything the first time around. Or maybe, im needing to walk through this again to help someone else.
Each one of these questions and statements have another possibility.
Do we hold onto things because we feel we deserve them?
Are we allowing ourselves to grow dry by not drinking of the Living water and feasting on God's Word?
Are my branches breaking off causing more damage and pain because I wouldn't surrender the heavy things?
Do I keep putting myself back in the same situation?
Who is training you?
Are you allowing the enemy of your soul,the Devil, to keep you bound by the training you accept?
Everything we do is training. The words we say, the actions we take, the things we watch and listen to.
If they are dark, impure and unholy we are allowing ourselves to be trained by the devil.
Or:
Are you allowing Jesus to prune away the distractions of this world? Are you allowing him to mold you into the vessel he has created you to be?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
LET JESUS BE YOUR TRAINER