We all know of people who complain all day long every day. If it's hot outside, then they say it's too hot. If it's cold outside, they say it's too cold. They complain if the son shines, because they are too hot. They complain if it rains, because they get wet. They complain no matter what. It seems they are always searching for something to complain about. No one likes to be around someone like that. They cannot be pleased no matter what. They are miserable most or all of the time.
The children of Israel in the book of Exodus were notorious for being complainers and murmurers. They complained when they were in bondage under Pharaoh. They wanted to be free. God set them free and they were not happy after awhile because they didn't like the Manna He was miraculously giving them. He brought water from a rock for them to drink, and even that wasn't good enough. Their shoes never wore out in forty years. They had protection from the enemy, food and water given to them, and yet they were murmuring and complaining saying they wished they had stayed with Pharaoh. They would have rather stayed in bondage; being worked like slaves and beaten daily, than to trust God to see them safely to the Promised Land. They murmured about everything and were constantly complaining to Moses. Because of their murmuring, they were not allowed to enter into the Promised Land, but were made to wander in the wilderness the whole time.
Sometimes, bad things happen in our lives. We aren't promised that everything will be fun, jolly and pleasant all the time. That doesn't give us the right to complain and murmur about it. We are to be joyful no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in. This isn't easy, but it is possible. If we rely on the Lord for our strength, then we can go through any situation without complaining. It takes effort; however. The enemy wants us to complain our way out of the victory God has for us. We wants us to murmur away our blessing. We should be praising away our defeat instead.
"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." (Acts 16:22-32).
If anyone had a right to complain and murmur, Paul and Silas did. They were beaten with many stripes and put in stocks in the prison. They did not rob, kill or mistreat anyone. The only reason they were in prison was for preaching in Jesus' name. They could have blamed God. They could have gotten angry and accused God of not caring for them. After all, they were preaching about Him; telling others about Him, and yet He let them be beaten in prison. They could have complained, griped, murmured and blamed God. Instead; however, they sang praises and worshipped the Lord in the midst of their darkest hours. They never lost their deep joy for the Lord. They never lost focus of Him. Because they rejoiced and praised the Lord, the jailer and his household received salvation! If they had not blessed the Lord, that would not have happened.
"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4).
We are not told to rejoice only in the good times. We are not told to praise the Lord only when things are going the way we want them to. We are not told to be joyful only in the easy times. We are told to rejoice always...all the time...no matter the situation. It isn't always easy, but it is possible. He would not tell us to do it if it were not possible.
Renew your mind starting today. Determine that you will not complain and murmur. It kept the children of Israel out of the Promised Land. There is no way to know what blessings we are missing out on because of our complaining. Nothing is worth missing out on the blessings of God. Complaining accomplishes nothing. Murmuring doesn't get anything productive done.
What is coming out of your mouth today, praises or complaints?
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