Monday, February 11, 2008

Complaining, cont.

I'm at it again this evening. I'm not sure I've ever faced this issue quite as seriously in my Christian life. I don't think that's a good thing, but thankfully God hasn't given up on me. I'm learning the value of being obedient to our Father in this area of not being a complainer. I'm learning that the words I speak come from who I really am inside. I'm learning that I can put on a good face when I walk into church, or meet a friend. I can say all the right words without even thinking about them much. It seems we can train ourselves to do that, especially after we're saved.

I have handled major things in my life fairly well I think. I don't go on a rant or lose my religion over the biggies. It's the every-day stuff that strives to undo me. It's the so-called small stuff and according to some books out there, we're not supposed to sweat the small stuff. Leave that be and deal with the larger issues. Not so.

Left unattended, the small things will eventually spoil the whole. Thus I must make every effort to allow the precious Holy Spirit to rule and reign in my life. I must think twice before speaking hurriedly or rashly. I must make a conscious effort not to complain or use words that will hurt someone and damage my testimony as a child of God. I must ever strive not to grieve the Holy Spirit. God, please forgive me for the times I have! I must care more about God's opinion of me than I do of man's. How often we try to fit in and do harm to our witness and our walk with the Father by doing do.

I read this tonight: "Often the hostility in our hearts reveals itself through our words and actions. The word "tongue" is mentioned ninety-three times in the Bible, often referring to its destructive power."

Luke 6:45 says "Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them." - God's Word Translation

In all this I see the work of my Father in me. If I am truly His child, He will not leave me to my own devices for very long. As His child, He will chastise and bring me into line with His character. As hard as I think this may be, I ask Him to please finish what He's started. I want to be pleasing in His sight. I want to be considered worthy to be called "Child of God". I want to be real and really His. I want to be filled with His precious Spirit. I want to cultivate a clean heart and pure speech. I want Him to be seen in me in all I do, all I think, all I say. I want to decrease that He might increase. I want to die to self, help me Father do this, die to self and what I want. Let me want what You have for me, nothing more and nothing less. I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" when I meet Him face to face.

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this. It has been true for me too that I find it easier to trust God on the big issues, the hard ones, and then do my own thing on the small ones - like those don't matter. But they do. I can especially relate to your first paragraph. Having been raised in a Christian home and getting saved at a young age I definitely know the lingo! Not that it's bad, just that we do have to catch ourselves from just talking the talk. Thanks again for your insight. (And for your comments on my blog!)

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  2. Thanks again, Louise. I find that what you are saying about yourself is completely true about me, too, and your posts about this are making me think.

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  3. It's those little foxes that spoil the vine - little words or complaints that deeply change who we are or should be. Those are the one's that I battle, like the TV being too loud while I'm trying to sleep! Why do I have say a "reminder" every night to TURN IT DOWN! Oh, those little foxes!

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  4. Little foxes ... one bad apple ... nip it in the bud ... I try to only complain through humor ... that way I don't have to take myself seriously ;) Don't you just love it when the Holy Spirit whispers or shouts in your ear and you are blessed by obeying? Hope you are warm inside today ... I hear it's cooollllldddd out your way.

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  5. You are right.We have so much to be thankful for and yet get peeved by the smallest things. i have to hold myself in check.

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  6. AMEN!!
    I too want to hear

    Well done ..as I fall and weep at our Father's feet

    lovingly..Deena

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