I haven't been writing in a while, but there has been a common theme running through my life lately. I have seen it in emails from friends, posts on FB, and even sermons.
We in my family are going through "stuff" I call it with my students. We all have "Stuff" but it is how we deal with it that makes us stronger or breaks us. Like many of you who may read this you also have "stuff" that seems so big and hard to handle. Please know I am not trying to say that mine is any harder to deal with than yours. I am just saying here I am with it right now. I feel like we have 2 options one is to have a heart of Grumbling and one is to have a heart of gratitude.
I don't know about you but for me when things are rough a heart of grumbling is so easy its like its natural probably because it is our sin nature. We have a way of thinking inward and looking at ourselves that makes us think why me, why this?.
Actually; Why not me? Why not this? Just because I am a believer in Christ doesn't make me immune to lifes circumstances. In fact if I am a true believer how I deal with my circumstances should bring God Glory. My life circumstances are there because this world is sinful and the temporary ruler on this earth is evil. Being a believer in Christ Jesus means that the earthly ruler, the devil, is against me because he is against God. The closer I am to Christ the more evil the devil will toss in my path to slow me down from doing the will of God. With this understanding I need to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
Ok so that helps the grumbling to end but how do you turn it into a heart of gratitude? I was reading a book a while back and this concept jumped off the page at me. What if tomorrow God only gave us what we thanked Him for today? Wow, What if??? I know how hard it can be sometimes to pray and it could become monotonous feeling but if you consider that all things come from God (which they do) and God all of a sudden decided hey if you aren't thankful for what I give you then I am going to take it away (which He has every right to) how then would you pray. How much easier would it be to thank Him the one that provides these things for us? A Heart and attitude of Gratitude! We need to keep our eyes and thoughts where they are supposed to be:
Philippians 4:8 8 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.
and stop the grumbling. Lets face it don't you feel better about things when your heart is greatful. We need to look for the things that are praise worthy and think about those things leave the rough stuff for God to handle because He will if you trust Him. We need to stop thinking we are doing all these things in our own power when God provides even our next breath.
