When Your Level Of Complaining Is At An All Time High…

it could be that your level of praise is at an all time low.

Is your level of complaining at an all time high? Do you know anyone who is always complaining? Complaining can be very tiresome and you may find yourself avoiding chronic complainers. Perhaps, we are the ones that others are sidestepping. Could the reason be, as the author of this quote suggests, that our praise is at an all time low?

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

It is good and biblical to express our true feelings to God.

The Bible is full of expressions of feeling. Psalm 62:8 says: “…pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (NIV)

It is also healthy, normal and necessary to grieve and express sorrow as a means of processing our feelings and finding healing.

However, the problem occurs if we find ourselves habitually complaining. When our level of complaining become a habit. Like most habits, it can be a hard one to break.

Chronic complaining not only makes us (and others) feel discouraged, but what does it say about our trust in the Lord and our witness for Him? We may appear ungrateful. Additionally, the Bible says in Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” (NLT)

If we need more reasons to stop complaining, we can read about the Israelites and their example in Numbers 11:1, “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” (NIV)

How then can we stop our level of complaining and praise God more? 

We can do as David did and remember God’s goodness. In Psalm 103:2-5 he said:

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (NIV)

Sometimes we complain because we have spiritual amnesia and forget how wonderful God is.

Deciding to change requires help, power and accountability. We can ask God for the power of His Holy Spirit and to give us self-control: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”(Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

We can also ask trusted friends and advisors to hold us accountable and we should not beat ourselves up if we stumble. If we persevere and keep trying then we will triumph.

Finally, the Bible commands us to praise God because He is always worthy and not only does it please Him but it changes us as well. As we remember and declare His faithfulness and focus on His goodness, our thoughts and attitude begin to change. Our faith is strengthened and our hope is renewed. Through our praise, we glorify God and we can inspire others to greater faith and encouragement as well.

Have you struggled with a high level of complaining? Would you like to change and begin to praise God more?

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• How Praising Unlocks Heaven on Earth

• Five Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

• What Does God Owe Me?

• How to Avoid Comparison in a World Filled with It

• How the Curse of Comparison Crushes

• Why Christians Can be Confident in Crushing Circumstances

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Nothing Lies Beyond The Reach of Prayer

except that which lies outside the will of God.

Phillips Brooks was a clergyman and author who lived in the 1800’s. He said, “Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.” Was he correct? Is anything beyond the reach of prayer except those things that lie outside of God’s will for us? In other words, will God violate His will to answer our prayers?

We know from the Bible that nothing is too hard or too difficult for God.

Jeremiah 32:27 says: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (NIV)

And the Bible says in Matthew 19:6, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (NIV)

It is true that we can pray about everything and the Bible encourages us to do so as in Philippians 4:6-7. But at the same time, God is not obligated to answer any and every prayer, as some people believe. This error is partially due to the “health, wealth and prosperity gospel” teaching that we can somehow force God to do what we want.

While it is true that Jesus said “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”(Matthew 21:22) This verse is teaching that we need to have faith to receive answers to our prayers.

We must consider other verses about prayer and the will of God that give us more insight. The Bible says that praying according to God’s will is the only way that we can be sure that He even hears us. In 1 John 5:14 we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (NIV)

Jesus had strong words about doing the will of God.

In Mark 3:35 “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (NIV) We also have His example of prayer that He prayed prior to His betrayal and arrest, in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Additionally, He taught His own disciples in the Lord’s Prayer to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 ESV)

We do have free will to make choices. But we shouldn’t confuse this with thinking we can impose our desires upon God and force His hand. We certainly can make our preferences known to Him.

However, when it comes to asking God to do something we can know that He will not answer any prayer that contradicts His will. Christians should follow the example of Jesus and pray, “Father, not my will but Yours’ be done” instead of praying, “Father, not Your will, but mine be done.”

How then can we know the will of God? 

The answer is by reading the Bible where there are many verses that reveal His will to us. For example, the following verses are clear indications of His will for us.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV)

If you are still unsure of the will of God for you, after prayer and searching the Scriptures, then speak to a Christian Pastor and obtain wise counsel from mature Christians.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Why Thanking Prayers Are So Important

• So You Think You Can’t Take a Prayer Retreat?

• Unexpected Ways It Pays to Pray

• Seven Ways to Pray When Suffering

• Podcast: Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?

• Podcast: How should I pray when suffering?

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

The Will Of God Will Not Take Us…

…where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

As a young church planter in the early 1980’s, I remember feeling like I just could not do the job. People opposed me, church growth seemed terribly slow, I was working so many hours yet seeing what seemed like so little progress. It seemed that either I was out of the will of God or that God’s grace didn’t extend to this calling.

In retrospect, that perspective was an illusion. The church eventually grew, we reached many with the Gospel, we became self-supporting right on schedule, I began to hire staff, God provided a building, I never missed a single paycheck. That church, started in 1981, still has an active ministry after 35 years!

As Billy Graham says in this quote, the will of God did NOT take me anywhere His graced did not sustain me. It just seemed like He wasn’t doing enough.

I don’t know how you’re feeling today. Perhaps you’re dealing with a terrible illness, perhaps the death of a dear friend or family member, perhaps financial shortcoming, perhaps opposition and unfair pressure or persecution.

But God will sustain you and He has a plan. 

Recently my daily Bible reading brought me to the story of Joseph. Do you remember what happened to him? He was hated by his brothers, sold by them into slavery (although some would rather have killed him), falsely accused of rape, put in prison for about 2 years, had friends who were executed, and could have been himself.

But God was there to sustain him through it all. When vindicated and again face-to-face with his brothers he concluded, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20a ESV)

Did Joseph suffer? Yes!Was he horribly betrayed? Yes!Was he incredibly abandoned? Yes!Did he have reason to wonder if God was working? Yes!

Yet the will of God never took him where the grace of God could not sustain him. 

He faithfully served God, even in slavery and imprisonment. In the end, God lifted him to a remarkable place of second in the Kingdom.

You and I probably won’t ever be elevated to such a high position, but the point remains: “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”

When we suffer, when we are abandoned and betrayed, let’s remember that God is still working, still sustaining, still making “all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

For more help for handling pain, grief, discouragement, depression and suffering, see my articles and podcasts on: 

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• How to Handle the Death of a Loved One How to Overcome the Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again

• How to be Smarter About Failure in Life

• How to Survive Rejection and Find Acceptance Today

• 3 Steps to Overcoming Betrayal and Building Trust Again

• Podcast: Is it OK to be angry with God?

• Podcast: Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?

• Podcast: How should I pray when suffering?

To learn how to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and be saved for all eternity click HERE. 

To develop your relationship with God, get my free eBook “10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth” click HERE.

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth