the walk

When my kids are misbehaving and straight out disobedient, I discipline them, I spur them on to correct their behavior, and then I move on. I do not disown them and tell them that they are no longer my children until they prove that they are perfect little angels again. This sounds like a ridiculous thought but really is that not how we sometimes feel about God.  Being a parent brings great revelation on how God's heart is for us when he calls us children. From birth (of my kids), I feel as though I am aware that all God wants from us is our hearts, because we have his. He just wants to be with us, have relationship with us. He wants to encourage the great parts of our personalities and dissuade us from becoming rotten or hurt. He wants us to make good plans and when we can't see that what we are doing isn't adding up, he will step in, but only if we let him. He doesn't want us to be little robots of him. He gave us freedom of choice. He wants us to grow in character and to know him. I am glad for these truths. We are his. He chose us. We choose him back. He who started a work will be faithful to complete it in us. And that doesn`t mean starting over... it means continuing on.