If you had to choose between a simple, the-game-comes-to-me, easy life or a more complicated life full of blessing – which would you choose?
My father-in-law loved ANYthing with a motor. Antique cars, jet skis, go-carts. If it had a motor, he had one, wanted one, or was fixing one. My husband takes after his dad. He can operate anything with a motor.
As life progressed, we were able to afford more things with motors. The caveat about owning things with motors is that something always needs attention. A dead battery. A tire needs to be replaced, the paint got scratched, blah, blah, blah.
One day David was complaining to his Dad about all the maintenance chores that needed to be done. His father said something we remember to this day, “If you’re going to have things – they’re going to need attention. Just be ok with that.”
IF you’re going to have two homes, you’re going to have two lawns to mow. If two cars are in your future, you’ll have to keep both gas tanks full. If 2 kids are the dream, you’ll have twice as many activities and parties to run them to.
It was the same for Moses, he became the leader of the Israelites – so all the Israelites needed…management, attention and leadership. Which caused Moses frustration big enough that his father-in-law noticed.
To me, all this begs the question – have we allowed frustration and complaining about the blessings we have keep us from believing and asking God for more and prevented God from blessing us more?
What if complaining about what we have now is keeping us from the blessing God wants to give? (Did you just swallow really hard like me?)
God isn’t moved by complaint. He’s actually repelled by the lack of thankfulness. Like the Israelites in the wilderness. Regular complaining about daily manna, miracle water in the desert, quail feasts, and that the next promised land of blessing looked too hard to take kept them smack dab where they were for forty years.
No more blessing. Nothing added to the asset column. No goals checked off the list.
As we go into goal setting season, what if we take a hard look at the words we’re saying and see if somehow, just possibly, we could be complaining about the blessings we have and putting the brakes on the blessing God is wanting to send.
I’ve complained about of my resources, my calendar and a few other things. Lord, I REPENT right NOW for complaining about the BLESSINGS you’ve sent me. My mind and attitude were off. I change it right now and say THANK YOU for choosing me to receive these blessings!
Believe it or not that prayer needs to be prayed probably every one of us! If you prayed that with me today, can I get an “AMEN”?
11 comments
Amen!
Amen! No complaining my blessings away for me!
God has been revealing areas in my life I need to change, and being thankful for what HE has given ME, is one of them. I don’t want to be stuck in the same place for 40 years like the Israelites because they were unwilling to see how God had blessed them. Thank you for taking the time to teach on this Pastor Nicole, I believe it was definitely for me.
Thank you so much for that message!!! It really touched my soul and heart. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with life, work and kiddos that we forget to be thankful for the many blessings we have. I give thanks for the blessings I’ve been given and thank God for the blessing coming my way!!!! Heyyyyy😊
Amen
Amen, this message was right on time! Thank You
Amen
AMEN. Sometimes I don’t realize I have complained about something, or spoken the wrong words until I hear someone say it back to me. Then I have to stop and apologize to God. And forgive myself for saying it. Tahnk you for the reminder.
Amen! Thank you for this message 🙂
Thanks so very much. Amen
Thank you for that spiritual 2×4!! Did you have to hit me so hard? Lol!! This was FOR ME!! Thank you, Lord that you never give upo on me!