By: Eunchae

Read: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
(Proverbs 12:1)

Relate: When I was young, I really hated when anyone evaluated my English skills. I never said a single word in English in front of people because I was afraid that if I said something in English, someone would judge about my English skills. It was especially worse in front of my family. I don’t know why, but using incorrect grammar in front of my family was more embarrassing than using it incorrectly in front of strangers. So for several years, my parents did not know what my English level was. But my brother was different. He confidently spoke English, and it did not matter to him if he used correct grammar or not. People who heard my brother speaking English were amazed by how fluently he could speak English. 

At that time, I realized that if I continued to hide and not try to speak because I was afraid of someone correcting me, I would never be able to speak English well. Thankfully, later on, I was given the opportunity to transfer to an international school, and after transferring to the school and living in a dormitory with people from various countries, I learned that it is absolutely not wrong or shameful to not speak English well or to have incorrect grammar. Thanks to my dorm parents, who corrected my mistakes and explained words I didn’t know, I am no longer afraid or embarrassed of someone correcting me, and instead, now I speak English confidently. 

React: Why was I so afraid of someone correcting me? It takes courage for a person to admit their own faults and mistakes. The attitude of willingly accepting discipline or correction so that we can correct past mistakes for the future is the humble person that God wants. On the other hand, not admitting one’s own mistakes and hiding them is false and deceptive. 

Respond:

Dear God,
Please help me not to be afraid of being corrected or disciplined. Rather than being afraid, please help me think of it as a step toward a better future and an opportunity not to repeat the same mistakes again. Please open my heart so that I can live only by relying on your words, even in difficult situations. I prayed in Jesus’ name.
Amen