The Joy of Correction
Some people may not know that in my spare time, I am a professional umpire. I work in all of our local softball leagues. This is a job where it's impossible to please everyone. Close calls will be disputed, and it's also possible for me to just get the call wrong.
Sometimes, I'll make a call knowing that I may not have had the best view of the play. In that case, I'll call time and confer with another umpire who may have seen it more clearly. If he saw it differently, I will publicly change my call with no shame, because I want to "get it right" without regard to how I look.
Willingness to be corrected is essential to hearing the Holy Spirit and learning about our Father. I take the same approach with God as I do on the ball field. I'll often tell God to show me truth, no matter what I think about it now. I'll ask Him to show me his viewpoint.
His correction is wonderful. His way always brings me into peace and the other fruits of the Spirit. I love it, and I seek it about so many thoughts I may have. I seek correction about my Bible understanding. I seek it about my social or political views. I seek it when I have a disagreement with my wife.
If any of these areas are not bringing me peace, I probably need another viewpoint. If my doctrinal views make me afraid or angry, I should ask God how He sees it. If my politics make me have contempt for some humans, I could benefit from asking God about it. If my disagreement with another person drives a wedge between us, God's view can often restore a loving connection.
The key to hearing God is humility. We have to want the truth, even if it goes against our opinion, if it means we apologize, if it changes our thoughts of God and the Bible, even if it goes against what I'm reading on the internet.
We lay down the pride of wanting to be right. We lay down our biases. We admit that our thoughts aren't always facts, and often are only opinions. We open our heart to whatever beautiful corrections may come, and we rejoice and thank our Father for giving us a wonderful, heavenly viewpoint. He is showing us a more excellent way.
All we have to do is ask.
Do you have any examples to share about how God corrected your thoughts and it brought joy and freedom?