Key scripture- “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Do you know the problem with many of us when we obey God, we murmur about it while we are doing it.

Did you know that God is taking notes, because when you grumble and complain, that is like halfhearted obedience, which is not obedience at all. Remember, God is looking at your heart, not the deed.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Do you know why we murmur and complain? Because we’ve taken our eyes off Calvary. We have forgotten how much Jesus sacrificed for us when He was beaten and died on the cross for our sins. Jesus didn’t murmur on the way to the cross and He knew exactly what was coming.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:23-24).

Stop and think, do you thank God for the pains and the trials in your life? Or only the gains?

Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Emphasis added).

Instead of complaining, we should have joy in trials because we see the sin being knocked out of our life, because we are being enriched in the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ, because it gives us a greater hope for heaven, and because our faith is being tested to give us stronger faith, to make us more dependent and to drive us to deeper communion. He puts us through trials, so that we can gain endurance, so that we can go through more trials, until we have become fully complete as a mature person in Christ.

Today, start thanking God not only for the blessings that He pours out on you, but for the trials too, because in the end your trials will turn out to be your biggest blessings, just like the Cross turned out to be the biggest and best blessing for all of us.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, You tell to “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” Forgive me for when I have grumbled, complained and griped. I repent and turn away from that type of attitude and I turn to an attitude of gratitude. I want to shine among everyone like a star in the sky and no matter what is going on to have an attitude of praise and worship. When I start to complain or grumble, I ask that the Holy Spirit convict me and remind me to stop and count my blessings one by one. Father, I thank You for all the trials in my life because that is what has brought me closer to You, and showed me how to die to myself and become more like Jesus. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 Laura Ingle