Grateful for God’s Discipline - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind . . . the Lord God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13

Today's Scripture
Amos 4:9-13

Today's Devotion
Gebah is incarcerated in a prison in Liberia but feels free. When first imprisoned, he said he “really hated Christianity.” But then he heard the good news of Jesus clearly for the first time. He now says, “It’s not a mistake that I came here. . . . God had a plan for me.” Gebah received salvation in Christ and declared, “This is not a punishment, but He brought me [here] for me to get my senses.” Today Gebah participates in prison meetings where he praises God in song with other inmates.

The prophet Amos also found the ability to praise God even as his people faced discipline. He pronounced God’s judgment on surrounding nations, his own country Judah, and leveled His strongest words against the nation of Israel to the north (see Amos 1-3). Amos declared that the Israelites hadn’t repented of their sin and “returned to” God (4:6). And because of their rebellion, they’d be punished by Him and “meet [their] God in judgment” (v. 12 nlt). Even so, the prophet praised God, noting that He “reveals his thoughts to mankind” and is “the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies” (v. 13 nlt).

Amos could trust God’s judgment because of His good and sovereign ways. As He disciplines us for our good, let’s gratefully praise Him—knowing that He “disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6).

Reflect & Pray
Why could Amos praise God even as his people faced discipline? How has God lovingly allowed you to face hard lessons?

Faithful God, please help me to be grateful for Your loving discipline and to praise You for shaping me for my good.

Today's Insights
In Amos 4, we read of God’s discipline of the Israelites throughout the generations. His actions weren’t capricious or vindictive. Throughout the Old Testament, we’re told and see ample evidence that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8; see Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13). He disciplines out of love to bring wayward people back to Him in repentance (Proverbs 3:11-12; Revelation 3:19). When Amos prophesied, the people had strayed far from God. The rich were living immoral lives and abusing the poor. They made sacrifices to God, but their hearts were far from Him. As the prophet Samuel declared, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). God wants more than ritual; He wants us to wholeheartedly love and serve Him. We can be grateful for His discipline because we know He’s shaping us for our good.

Bible in a Year

Ezekiel 24-26

1 Peter 2

Tom Felten