Daily Devotion for 3/1/11 Instead of Complaining, Change!

Hey Family Happy Tuesday...I woke up this morning and I could have sworn it was Wednesday! Nevertheless I am truly thankful for this day? How about you?

Today's Lesson: Instead of Complaining, Change!
Scripture Text: Lamentations 3:40

"Let us examine our ways and test them" (Lamentations 3:40)

So, I saw this title and said to myself...Self, myself said hmmmm "It's time you make some changes, you keep complaining, but you won't do anything about it" I'm so glad I stumbled across this message...So here we go

One child complains about the other: "Mommy, he hit me" [If that doesn't sound like my whining lol] She's convinced its her brother's fault, that he ought to be punished, that she should have sympathy and be absolved of all responsibility. [Yep, sounds right to me] But her brother is equally certain: "She started it. She took my toy." We grow older, but not always wiser! It "just happened" we say, then proceed to blame others for our circumstances. We dance to the tune but we don't want to pay the piper, so we complain about our consequences, saying it wasn't our fault. This is not the way God does business, and it doesn't work. "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?" (v.39)

What works with God is this:

#1 Acknowledge your wrong behavior: Even though it was initiated by someone, you still played a part in it, and that is your responsibility. Plus, complaining offends God. "The People complained...in the hearing of the Lord, and...his anger was aroused" (Numbers 11:1) Deal with your own sin, and leave other people's sins to God. He's got that...

#2 Look at your behaviors: "Let us examine our ways" Look beyond this specific event to how you typically act in certain situations. You're supposed to learn from it and change!

#3 Determine whether your ways really work: "Let us...test them" Observe, analyze, and judge how well your ways have actually worked--or not!

#4 If they don't work, change them: "Let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40) Repeating wrong behaviors guarantees continued failure. Returning to doing things God's way, brings the end of frustration and the beginning of joy and fulfillment!

So stop whining, fussing, and pouting over things you have the power to change. Stop complaining and start working to live better and be better.

Peace and Love Family


:: LA ::