STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT

The saying "Straighten Up and Fly Right" has been around since Nat King Cole wrote and recorded a song with this title many years ago.  At various times in our life, and certainly when we come into recovery, we need to get serious, get focused on healthy things, and start behaving in new ways.  People tell us we need to get our lives in order but if we stubbornly refuse to do so, we are on a fast track to trouble and heartbreak.

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. Proverbs 29:1 NLT

God kindly had people write down everything we need to know to live well, including how to correct our course when we are going wrong.  That is why we need to read the Scriptures and apply what we read to our words, attitude, and behaviour.

God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.  (2 Timothy 3:16 NIRV)

God’s principles are the measure He will use when we stand before Him and He evaluates what we have done with our lives.  Now is the time to not just know what the right thing to do is, but to adjust our behaviour accordingly.

Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.  Jesus asked:  “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but you don’t do what I say?  (Proverbs 29:19, Luke 6:46 ERV)

The Bible illustrates this point by the teaching of children to do what is right.  Parents who truly care for their children, guide, direct and discipline them as needed. The child who grows up in the knowledge of what is right learns from being disciplined.  

Some of us may not have been given this teaching or, in our arrogance and rebellion, ignored what we learned and went our own way.  Now would be a good time to develop a humble heart, seek correction, and straighten up and fly right.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  Forgive me for my stubborn rebellious ways.  Help me to welcome input from Your Word each day and to quickly put Your principles into practice.  Amen