May 19, 2016

“You're Grounded!”


When I was young, being grounded was not a good thing. Grounding was a last resort form of punishment meant to get us to stop doing a bad behavior, and the very mention or threat would stop the worst kid and instantly transform them into an angel. Or at least that is what the pleading kid wanting the parent to believe was a possibility.  

Usually, being grounded meant for me that I wasn’t allowed to leave the house -unless it was with one of my parents or to go to school. It also meant that I couldn’t have friends over nor was I allowed to communicate with my friends. Of course since we didn’t have cell phones or computers this wasn’t really an issue. 

And, it became a great opportunity for my parents to get free labor for items such as cleaning, washing the vehicles, or cutting the grass.

Of course there is the possibility that with a mischievous child, grounding them can actually backfire to the point where a parent will give issues an early release. 

I remember one time an older brother of mine was grounded for two days when my father was out of town on a business trip. My brother decided that the best way for him to “serve his sentence” was to spend every possible moment with mom (who grounded him). He even suggested that she make the sentence FIVE DAYS so that he could really learn his lesson.

This meant being with her EVERYWHERE including sitting next to her on the couch when she watched TV, standing next to her when she washed the clothes or cooked a meal. He went with her to the store and to the neighbors as well as when she walked outside to get away from him! 

EVERYWHERE, that is, except the bathroom and her bedroom at night. 

At the end of the first day, she gave him an early pardon because his constant present in her space drove her “nuts” and she realized that she was one being punished! 

But, depending on where your heart is at, being grounded can actually be a good thing; especially if you had a father or mother who used it as a way to shape and develop your character.

If an airplane is grounded (for instance) because of bad weather or unsafe conditions, that is a good thing because the goal is safety and protection, not punishment. Similarly, when used by loving, nurturing parents, it can be a way to protect a child from making poor decisions or developing bad behavior that can have long time implications.

Depending on where your heart is at, being grounded by God can actually be a good thing; especially if it is used as a way to shape and develop your character.  

 “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” ­Psalms139:5-6

In fact, depending on whether or not you know Him as a loving, nurturing Father will determine whether or not you receive any sort of discipline as a gift.

 “For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights” ­Proverbs ­3:12

As a Christian, being “grounded” has other implications, not just used in reference to punishment. Grounding means to have stability or a foundation; something which we can build upon:

 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” ­Ephesians 3:17

“If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” ­Colossians1:23­

He only wants the best for you. In fact if He is correcting or disciplining you, it is because you are one of His children. Meaning, if you are not being disciplined by Him, it is because you are not one of His children:

 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”Hebrews12:5-13

I’m not sure where you are at. You may be trying to escape the discipline of the Lord; seeing his correction as a bad thing. My word to you is to STOP and turn to Him. And let Him put you in the place in which you will most bring Him honor.

Your life will be so much more peaceful and He doesn’t mind if you follow Him EVERYWHERE!

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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