October 20th
Read: Romans 8: 8; Mark 4:39; Isa. 32:17
When we “deny self”, we lay aside complaining. When we “deny self”, we accept, because of God’s sovereignty and omniscience, that His ways, His timing, His judgment are beyond our limited understanding, therefore beyond our petty control. Our imagined “rights” are subject to His good pleasure. Our “intelligent approaches” cannot be superimposed upon His deep ways. Our “confident conjectures” cannot plumb His deep mysteries without His permission and teaching. Our “knowledge” of people is limited to surface manifestations.
Even our “discernment of spirits” is contingent upon what His Holy Spirit allows.
Because He is all and in all and the Christian is nothing without Him, complaining makes no sense at all. It merely injures our relationship with our Heavenly Father and hinders His work in us and through us. May God’s grace and our obedience yank the noxious weed of complaining from the lives of His people and plant instead praise, rejoicing, and thanksgiving.
SERENITY
“Be calm,” He says,
“And settled now,
And know that all you do
Will work out for your good somehow
Because I’m guiding you.”
“Be calm,” He says,
“And let me lead
Wherever that I will,
I’ll give you strength just as you need
And whisper, `Peace, be still.'”
Prayer: Dear God, forgive me for any complaining ways I have allowed into my life. Keep me praiseful for You.
