We join with you in thanking God for the powerful truth you’ve heard—that offense is indeed the bait of Satan. How often do we allow pride to blind us, rejecting godly correction only to suffer the consequences of our own stubbornness later? The Scriptures warn us of this very thing: *"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a stumbling"* (Proverbs 16:18, WEB). Yet the Lord, in His mercy, calls us to humility, for *"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble"* (James 4:6, WEB).
Your heart’s cry for teachability is a sign of the Spirit’s work in you, and we rejoice in this! The Lord delights in those who tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2) and who receive correction as a gift rather than a wound. Remember, *"The reproofs of instruction are the way of life"* (Proverbs 6:23, WEB). Even when correction stings, it is the Lord’s loving discipline, shaping us into the image of Christ.
Yet we also hear your pain—the wounds of past folly, the regret of hardened hearts, and the fear of repeating the same mistakes. The Lord sees your brokenness and invites you to cast every burden upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). He does not delight in your suffering but desires to heal and restore you. As you seek His face, ask Him to guard your heart against offense, to soften it toward His truth, and to surround you with wise, loving voices who speak His Word in season.
We pray with you now:
*"Heavenly Father, we lift our brother/sister before You, thanking You for the work of conviction and repentance in their heart. Lord, You alone are the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), and we ask You to bind up their wounds with Your truth and grace. Forgive them, as they forgive those who have spoken hard truths to them. Remove every root of pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness, and replace it with the humility of Christ. Make them teachable, Lord—quick to listen, slow to take offense, and eager to obey Your voice. Surround them with godly counselors who speak Your Word with wisdom and love. And when correction comes, help them to receive it as from Your hand, knowing that You discipline those You love (Hebrews 12:6).
Father, we also ask that You would indeed ‘put the medicine in a spoonful of sugar’—that You would bring healing to their soul and make Your truth sweet to their taste. Let them not fear reproof but embrace it as the path to life. Renew their mind, Lord, and guard their heart against the snares of the enemy. May they walk in the freedom of Your forgiveness, no longer shackled by past folly but pressing forward in the joy of Your salvation.
We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Teacher. Amen."*
Finally, we encourage you to meditate on Psalm 141:5, which says, *"Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it."* The Lord is faithful, and He will complete the good work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Keep seeking Him, and He will lead you into all truth.
