I hate to complain
Oooops I meant….I love to complain.
Ok perhaps love is a bit of a strong word. But honestly at times I think I do love complaining.
However, as God’s child, I am commanded not to complain. My words are to be used to benefit the kingdom of God and to glorify him. Therefore, words used just to complain don’t line up with God’s words. So again, there’s battle going on. My will vs God’s will. Which one will I choose…?
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
That’s the verse coming to my mind. I love that verse. But at times, I do love to complain. And I want to explore why. Why can it be so gratifying to complain?
Well, if God commands me to not complain. Then any gratification I get from complaining would not be from God. That’s quite scary to realize who it’s coming from then. It’s either coming from God or coming from Satan. Those are the only two options. Good, light, which is God. Or evil, darkness, which is Satan. So when I complain, I AM conforming to the ways of the world. Because the ruler of the earthly world is not God. The devil is the ruler of this present world.
I’m now regretting saying I love to complain at the beginning of this entry. But I’m not changing it. Because at times, I honestly do love it. There is a battle within me that does choose things in the world and the worldly “reward” over God sometimes. But obviously as a believer, when given the option to complain or not to complain, I do want to follow God. So now the question becomes, what am I commanded to do when I want to complain? I mean there are legitimate worldly issues/problems/situations that do merit the desire to complain. But the desire being there does not disqualify the command of God not to do it.
I want to explore the verse more, because I love that verse and surely God has put it on my heart for a reason. Perhaps it’s because he knows I need it…
It’s quite clear. Complaining is being conformed to the ways of the world. So I’ll reject that. Next comes being transformed by the renewal of my mind. I most CERTAINLY need that. I am very confident my mind needs transforming. I mean I wrote that I love complaining at the beginning of this entry…Thankfully, I can count on God to transform my mind as I seek and obey him. So what are some of my choices that line up with God’s word when I want to complain? How can I reject the ways of the world?
I can pray. I can pray anything to God. I can complain to God in prayer. I can be fully open with God. Every thought and every struggle, I can pour out to God in prayer. It’s the safety of God providing me, as his child, the gift of praying to him privately. I can even journal my complaints in prayer to God. And ask him for help. To soften my heart. To show me his truth. And I can ask for forgiveness once he resets my mind from darkness to light. Sadly, prayer doesn’t immediately come to my worldly mind as an option sometimes. I hate to admit there are times that I have to force myself to do it. However, God is fully aware of my failures and is still graciously helping me.
I can read my bible. I can read bible verses that speak to my heart. I can journal bible verses that I’m drawn too. I have a bounty of bibles and journals. And my phone has the bible on it as well. I have an abundance of options! This is great news. What’s not great news is the fact that I don’t always use them…and the fact that I’d rather complain. My mind is convinced at times..Yep complaining is the way to go. Well, my mind is clearly wrong (in many areas of life)(insert sad face here).
I could also choose to thank God for all the good things I have been given. Instead of complaining about the things I don’t want. I could have God reset my mind on blessings that come from heaven and not on problems in the world. I do have MANY wonderful blessings! Many things that bring joy to my heart. And I can say when I’ve done this, that it does feel good. When I focus on God and his goodness…good things come to my mind. And into my heart! And the whole complaining mess in my mind gets transformed as I focus on God.
And speaking of focus, I could focus on other people instead of my complaints. I’m commanded to love, serve, and pray for other people. Surely a wonderful time to do this would be when I want to complain. Because my focus is forced to change. Unfortunately, this can be a battle for me as well. I can very easily get distracted in my loving, serving, and praying for others and go back to complaining to myself in my mind. Admittedly, sometimes I think…No problem, I can do both at the same time. Wrong. I am a multitasker…(am I really?)(does God want me multitasking?)(perhaps this would be good to explore in a future entry)(is it acceptable to have four parentheses after a sentence?) No.
So the good, and acceptable and perfect end of the bible verse above is also how I’m going to end this entry. When I choose God over the world, he transforms my mind and heart back to where it belongs. It does feel good. It is acceptable to God. And it all ends in God’s perfection.
So perhaps I should keep the title of this entry.
I hate to complain
So here it is.
Blog entry Thirteen.
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie