Get in the corner….you have time out. Did anyone hear this as a child in school? If you never heard this growing up in my era as a school aged child, then I celebrate the near angel child you were. I have certainly heard “get in the corner”, I’ve heard “go the principal’s office”, I have heard “I am calling your parents” (God help me on that one), I even had a teacher when I was in private school tell me to put the back of my hands out in front of her so she can give me a whack or two with a ruler. I am having flashbacks. Just thinking of that one almost makes me want to say “ouch”. Needless to say, I have had my share of trouble or should I say getting myself into trouble.
The purpose of the teacher instructing me to get in the corner was so that I could think about what I had done and so that I could be remorseful enough not to repeat that behavior again. The purpose of the corner was also to isolate me so that class could continue with the other children without distraction. There was a time when my teacher called me out of the corner and asked me if I thought about what I did and if I was sorry. I said that I was and I believe I truly was for the moment. I have to say for that moment because at some point in the future, I would find myself in trouble again to the magnitude of the corner (I talked a lot in school). At home on the other hand there was no getting in the corner or time out to think about what you did. There was no counting to 3 or counting to 10. My mother came to you ON 10 with her best friend that was a cow leather thick belt that she had the nerve to have a nickname for. That is another blog at another time. Thinking about those times makes me want to say ouch too…. lol.
So maybe you may not have experienced any of the above. Maybe you never caused any trouble to the point of being told to get in the corner as a young person, but I would like to encourage you to volunteer to get in the corner today. DeShantel, what in the world are you talking about? I get it, yes, we are all adults, however, you are also a child of God. And because we are His children, when we get in trouble and when trouble comes our way, we have a special corner He made for us. This corner is nothing like the corner my teacher would send me to in the classroom. God’s word says that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone on the foundation that we are built on. This corner is the corner we can go to when there is hurt, rejection, pain, fear, worry, sickness, sin, confusion. This corner is for any kind of trouble we may have gotten ourselves into or any trouble coming from the enemy of our souls, or in this day and time any trouble coming from the pandemic we are facing. When we get in this corner, we eliminate distractions and have time to think, we can be reminded of God’s promises over our lives, we can repent and be godly sorry to never be found in that place again, we can fight through with prayer and the word of God in that corner. This corner is a powerful corner that can get us through anything. In the bible there was a king by the name of Hezekiah who received a report that he was very sick unto death, but Hezekiah was a praying man and refused to receive his death sentence, so what did he do? The bible says he turned and faced the wall and prayed and cried unto God. When King Hezekiah got out from facing that wall spending time with God isolated without distractions, he had 15 healthy years added to his life.
I do not care what you are facing right now. Yes, I know that the coronavirus is very real and it appears to be great. We have lost a lot of people close and around the world. But let me remind you that our great God is more real and more powerful and greater than this virus. If I can be your teacher for the day and tell you to take a time out and get in the corner. Turn your face and get in the corner. Give it to Jesus. He can handle it. In fact, He WANTS to handle it. God's word says in I Peter 5:7. I love the amplified version “Casting all your cares (all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares about you (with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully).
I am even thinking of when boxers are fighting and after a round, they go back to their corners. Those fighters are bleeding, tired, they are in pain, worn down and nearly out of breath. What do their trainers do? They wipe off the blood and bandage them up to stop the bleeding, they encourage them, they give them strategies on their next move on how to win, they speak into them to make them think stronger and make better decisions for when they go back out for the next round to defeat their enemy. It’s the SAME when we get in the corner of the Chief Cornerstone. He is a sure foundation on which we can trust, lean, and depend on. WE are encouraged, we get cared for, the bible says that He bandages up our wounds. We find rest in the corner. We come out stronger with strategies on how to defeat our enemy and win because we have been positioned to win in every round of life. Do I have to say anymore? Get in the corner and come out with the victory!
PRAYER: Father God Teacher and Master. I honor you today for your goodness and your mercy. I thank you for your grace you have given me to always position myself for a win. You are a good God and greater than anything I can ever face in life. You are amazing and you do ALL things well. Today I will run to you. Today I place myself in the corner. I place myself in time out for you and with you and I put my whole trust in you. Teach me your ways and lead me in a plain path. I need you like never before. Help me. Lead me. Guide me. Heal me. Give me strength to stand. Father I pray for strategies and I ask you for your wisdom to help me get through and to help me help others. In you I have everything I need and I know when I come out of this there will be glory. I trust you, AMEN.
SCRIPTURES:
Psalm 61:2 (KJV) From the end of the earth I will cry until thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 18:2 (AMP) The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower-my stronghold.
Matthew 11:29-30 (AMP) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me (following Me as My disciple), for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy (to bear) and My burden is light.
John 16:33 (AMP) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world (my conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding).