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"What we complain about reveals what really matters to us."


A thought by Kyle Idleman, (2013-02-19) from his book, Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart (Kindle Location 397). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Kyle goes on to say, “Whining shows what has power over us. Whining, in many ways, is the opposite of worshiping the Lord. Worship is when we glorify God for who he is and acknowledge what he has done for us, but whining is ignoring who God is and forgetting what he has done for us.” 

That is so true.  We want comfort don’t we and when we don’t get it we really complain.  Comfort can become an idle for us.  Maybe God doesn’t want us to be comfortable.  Maybe He has something for us that we are to do.

I was tempted to go to a Starbucks this morning that was just down the block from where we live.  I usually take the bus to a Starbucks that is a couple of miles away then I walk home after I’m done.  I usually have to stand out waiting on the bus to come, then when I get there I usually sit outside.  Sometimes it is cold out there but then I also have to walk the nearly three miles home and sometimes I don’t want the hassle but today I took the bus and I was glad.  One of the baristas had a very difficult time last night and they hadn’t told anyone till she sat down across from me and let me know her pain.  She was really in pain.  I was supposed to be there today.   I had a divine appointment this morning.  But what if I had given in to the idle of comfort?

It is so easy for me to complain about waiting on a bus and then walking home.  We had sold our second car to someone who really needed it.  And there are times that I could complain about that but God had a plan and we were obedient. 

Mark Batterson in his book, All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life, says, “Obedience is hard work, and it gets harder.”

I don’t know if you realize that it took Noah 120 years to build the Ark.  But what might have happened if he hadn’t been obedient?  Now I’m sure he had every right to complain but he still knew who his God was and he was obedient to Him and kept at the task even though no one had ever built a boat before. 

Stop and really think about what you are complaining about.  Stop and start looking at what you do have.  I am so thankful that at 65+ I can walk and what my walking does in continuing in the quality of life that I have and will have.  I’m not going to complain. 

So what are you complaining about today?  

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