“Do everything without complaining or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14)
Some cancers, like skin cancer, are more obvious and you can remove them. Then there is the kind that grows undetected and it destroys your body. Complaining is like that; it impacts your health and sabotages your success. Paul says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”
Dr. Ann Shorb writes: “If you find yourself … feeling negative and down … listen to what’s being said around you. Is there a lot of grumbling and complaining? Are the people you spend time with constantly expressing discouraging thoughts and feelings? … Maybe you are the one … griping and complaining … Many times we become our own worst enemy by developing angry or bitter attitudes … Your thoughts and attitudes are your choice. Where you put your mind is up to you!
Follow what the apostle Paul wrote about putting off the negative and putting on the positive in Colossians 3:1-15: ‘So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.’
And in Ephesians 4:25-32: ‘Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.’
Acknowledge that there are problems … but don’t dwell on them … Do what you can to remedy the situation. Remember … you can never change another person, only yourself and your attitudes … Find the positives … Focus on these and be thankful that God promises to be with you … through the hard times … Use Bible verses and inspirational sayings to refocus when your thinking starts to go [downhill] … By changing your thinking you change your outlook, and by changing your outlook you change your life.”
To one person the world looks desolate; to another the same world looks rich and interesting. What you see depends mainly on what you look for. Make up your mind not to complain for a day. Then challenge yourself not to complain for a week. You will be amazed at how much better you feel.
Prayer
Lord, I thank You for granting me this day. Let me look forward to my tasks this day with joy and love, joy in the salvation You have granted me, and with love to be shared with those around me who need it. Let the love and peace you give to me be the gifts I give to those around me.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
