Speak Carefully!

Last week. I was talking to a friend on the phone and as I hung up the phone, I realized that I had spent our entire conversation complaining and grumbling. I had complained about how hard my day was, how crazy my life is, and how the chaos never seems to end.

That night as I lay in bed, God had to give me one of those "Father-daughter" talks as He so often does.

I was reminded of Phillipians 2:14-15 - "In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them."

God didn't say that we could complain on really bad days or to our really good friends. He said that in EVERYTHING we do, we should stay away from complaining.

It must grieve the heart of our Father to know that we are not happy or content with the lives with which we have been blessed. He must feel such sorrow when He sees the enemy convincing us that our lives are less than what we imagined.

God has given us so much. We are blessed to live the lives that we choose. I often think about people in other parts of the world that are persecuted for living out their faith, speaking their minds, or simply wearing the wrong type of clothing. And here I sit, complaining because my day was a little busier or crazier than I had planned!

I long for my life to shine brightly before men. I want people to wonder what I have that brings me such happiness and contentment. It's a little hard for others to want what I have if I am constantly complaining and grumbling. I want to represent my Savior in a way that true and good. I want to show others that He truly is the only way to have contentment and joy.

Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

Have you ever talked to someone who just complained so often that it brought you down? Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling worse than when it started? Don't allow yourself to cause others to feel that way. Let the words that you say be good and helpful. Be an encouragement to others and not a complainer. God has called us to speak life and joy. Do not let the enemy use you to speak death and destruction.

As you go throughout your day today, speak carefully. Ask God to show you when you are complaining. Ask Him to give you words of life and use those words to be an encouragement to your friends, family, co-workers,and acquaintances.

Some Things to Think About:

1. How often do you complain?
2. What do you complain about?
3. Has complaining become a routine part of your day?
4. Have you ever focused on the things that bring you joy instead of the things that bring you pain?

Words of Worth:

"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

"In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them." Phillipians 2:14-15

"Why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the Lord." Lamentations 3:39-40