THURSDAY 9/5/13 - Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life -a Daily Devotional - Complaining Is a Sin!
Before you read what Joyce has to say, I must confess this to everyone. I too complain and mostly about the silliest things. I complain when I'm trying to do something and I forget to do something else first and now have to walk back to do it. That may not sound like much to you, but since walking is hard for me...I complain. I complain when I get the drops-es. You all know what I'm talking about. You pick something up and you drop it, sometimes not only once, but twice or three times. What about your physical problems. I really don't complain about my leg, but I do complain about my eye problem or my about my back hurting when I'm making dinner. Since I'm standing, I don't know why, but it starts to hurt between my shoulder blades. I also complain when my husband doesn't do what I want him to do, like wash a dish and make sure he gets all the food off. Or when something falls on the floor, not to leave it there, pick it up. Now I've been married for 26 years and this has been going on this long. Therefore, what makes me think he's going to change, so why complain?
What do you complain about? I hope you will think about this as I have. I am truly going to try to stop myself when I find myself complaining, and praise God at that moment for all the good that is in my life. What about you? Will you try to stop complaining and praise God instead?
Psalms 100:4
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
In Ephesians 4:29, the apostle Paul instructs us not to use any foul or polluting language. At one time, I didn't realize that this included complaining, but I have since learned that murmuring and complaining pollute our lives.
Plain and simple, complaining is a sin! It causes many people a great deal of problems in their lives and destroys the joy of anyone listening.
We need to ask ourselves, how quick are we to become impatient and begin to complain when stuck in traffic or while waiting in checkout lanes in grocery stores or department stores? How quick are we to spot and point out all the faults of our friends or family members? Do we complain about our job when we should be thanking God that we have one?
The best antidote for complaining is thanksgiving. Truly thankful people do not complain. They are too busy being grateful for all the good things they have that they have no time to notice the things they could complain about.
The Bible says that we are to enter God's courts with praise and thanksgiving. You and I need to make it a daily goal to live a life of thanksgiving. Let's be as positive and grateful as possible.
Try going to bed at night pondering everything you have to be thankful for. Let it be the first thing you do in the morning. Thank God for "little" things or things you might normally take for granted: a parking place, waking up in time for work, a meal, your family... Don't get discouraged when you fail, but don't throw in the towel and quit either. Keep at it until you have developed new habits and you are living with an attitude of gratitude.
Be generous with your gratitude. It will sweeten your relationship with the Lord.
Prayer Starter: God, I want to live with an attitude of gratitude, starting right now! I thank you so much for loving me and for blessing me. Help me see the positive things in life and to thank You for them.
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If you just started reading the Bible and have not yet asked Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and Savior, all you have to do is:
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
B - BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS GOD'S SON AND EXCEPT GOD'S GIFT OF FORGIVENESS FROM SIN
Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household"
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me."
Ephesians 2:8-9 ....8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
C - CONFESS YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD
Roman 10:9-10, 13 .....9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart the God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If your are ready to ask Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, you can pray a simple prayer like this to God.
Dear God,
I know I have sinned and my sin separates me from You. I am sorry for my sin. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me so my sin can be forgiven. I believe Jesus rose from the dead and is alive. God please forgive me. I ask Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior and Lord. I will obey You and live for You the rest of my life, Thank You in Jesus' name I Pray. Amen
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