Grumble, grumble…”I don’t like that cereal. No, don’t want it. I want… chips, chips… gummies.”
A pantry chock-full of food and queen toddler of the house doesn’t fancy any of it. You know where this is going, right? Ten, nine…tantrum!
A smorgasbord of choices and blessings and all there are complaints.
That sounds like me. I wonder if God perceives me like this –acting like a kid.
Mmm. I know the answer.
Complaining I must drive. Okay, at least I have a car. My kitchen is too small but I have one. There’s no dark roasted coffee brewed at the coffee shop. Do they have to tailgate me in a 35-speed zone? All I have for dinner tonight is Weight Watcher’s pizza and a box of Life cereal? Ugh! Christians can vent, I hope you’re tracking with me.
The laundry list of complaints continues. Complaining makes things look more detrimental than they are. It can destroy innovations, creativity, companies and attract like-minded negative people. Ever notice, complainers stick together? I experienced this in my first job years go. This person would gossip and complain, after talking to them and being around their company a while, I sounded like them.
Complaining damages your health. Extra cortisol is released by complaining, damaging the immune system leading to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Spiritually, the implications of grumbling are no better. We’re not complaining to ourselves and others — but against God. After a while, we don’t desire to pray, we whine. It minimizes our power in Christ and in our lives. Soon, the glitter doesn’t glow as much anymore.
Paul wrote, “And do not grumble, as some of them did — and was killed by the destroying angel (1 Corinthians 10:10).” “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Romans 12:2 said.
Take a minute and consider the blessings. Remember your child’s infectious smile when they greet you at the door. Think about the call you got for a job offer when there were 100 dollars left in the checking account. Think of the time God healed you and comforted you during a time of great turmoil. This will help you when ideas and emotions jerk the reins of composure from you.
So yes, I sounded like my toddler — although I didn’t have a physical tantrum, yet. That’s cool, Jesus helped me to refocus. I’m thankful for all of it.
“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods,” Psalms 95:1-3. And let’s remember what James said: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
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