A lot happened this past weekend and so many are facing devastation beyond what we can truly comprehend. I've seen so many just complain over some of the smallest things, when we have so much to be grateful for. At the root of complaining really is fear, worry and doubt. I pray that as believers we step into the Lord and not into our flesh. The unknown can be scary, but there is always a way. We have been brought through some things in this life in order to remember who did it and if he did it then, he will do it again. If we were found complaining, I pray we ask for forgiveness and make space in our hearts to truly be grateful.
The question is what will we choose to be grateful for?
When we replace the words in that statement instead of asking what are we grateful for, it takes on a new meaning. We have to be willing to find it. No matter what life is looking like, what WILL we be grateful for? I'm challenging all of us to look around and find it, looking beyond modern conveniences. We have been found putting our hope and trust in modern conveniences forgetting to truly look up to the one that has held us and kept us.
When the Lord calls us out of comfort and into many unknowns that may be a part of our purpose and calling, it will be easy to complain and want comfort, and if we remain there, we will be found in disobedience. I pray that we can get new perspective. Heavens perspective.
One may say, "that's easy for you to say". Well, yes it is because I've walked the roads of discomfort, devastation, trial, hardship, and so much more. I know what it is to be in lack, without a storm and what its like with no central air conditioning. I've been in the place of ungratefulness, allowing fear and worry to control me. It did absolutely no good and made me even more fearful and miserable.
However, those trials made me stronger. I built endurance to be able to handle more. I had to work on my mindset and shift my thinking. I had to get my mind off myself and onto other people. I began to understand how to have peace in the midst of the storms, and uncertainty, but stand on the word which gives me peace that surpasses my own logic and understanding.
We have much to be grateful for here in South Carolina. May we learn to act like it. Actually no. We don't do acting around here. We need to be real, leading by example. May we be found with a grateful heart.
Find joy in cleaning up the debris. Sweat your butt off and choose to enjoy it. Find joy in using what you've got, Holy Spirit will lead you. Find joy in the smallest and simplest things and while there, find space to pray and intercede for others. Stand firm on his word and believe it. Speak it over your families, families and others in areas you can't physically reach.
There is much to learn in the midst of everything going on, with every obstacle, every storm, in all the uncertainty, but if we can't see, we will never gain what we need for this season, nor the next. We also won't have any wisdom to share with anyone else.
Complaining isn't it. Complaining speaks a different sound than gratitude and its not something the Father can, nor will work with.
Do we even know what complaining truly means when we operate in it?
Complaining: the expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
The question remains....
What will we choose to be grateful for??
An attitude of gratitude changes things. Look around and find where the Lord's hand has been upon your life and purposefully give thanks, for "This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24
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