Complaining not only ruins everybody else’s day, it ruins the complainer’s day, too. The more we complain the more unhappy we get.
– Dennis Prager
The book of Psalm is one of my favourite books in the Bible when I am feeling emotional. The poetic way it is written beats all literature written by men. The chapters and verses touch the most inner aspect of your soul that sometimes you cannot comprehend.
Psalm 55 is entitled: Cast Your Burden On The Lord. This was a lament of King David when he was betrayed by an ally. This psalm is divided into three prayer parts. The first eight verses were King David’s prayer while in anguish. Further, verses 9-15 were his prayer for justice and the last verses were for assurance.
We will be focusing on the first two verses which showed David’s state while he is lamenting.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Book of Psalm 55:1-2. Please, read our recent devotional from the Book of Job 1:1-5: How To Be Good Parents?
Start With A Clean Heart
Sorrow filled David’s heart, which brought him to pray this Psalm to God. I admire how he opened his prayer to God. And that is by asking God to hear his prayer and to show him mercy. This is a concrete example of how one should approach God, with humility and acknowledgement that God is pure and without sin, and we are not.
My husband and I had a misunderstanding before writing this devotional. And verse 1 helped me realize that the Holy Spirit will not be able to help me write if I have hate or anger in my heart. And so like David, I prayed and asked for mercy from God (Hebrews 4:16) for not following His command that wives should honour their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24). Then, I asked for forgiveness from Pavlo and told him I forgive him as well (Matthew 18:21-22).
Where Do We Complain?
We often whine about almost everything that we think is unfair to us. Children do this when they think the division of chores is not equal. Additionally, husbands and wives do this also, when they complain that one does not pay attention to their needs.
Paul Molitor, an American baseball player, said, “Complaining is like vomiting. You might feel better after you get it out, but you make everybody around you sick.” This is true because the worst part about complaining is we bring other people, who are listening to us whine, to sin. We do not realize that we are planting seeds of hate in their hearts. Moreover, we are provoking them to judge our “oppressor”.
When we want to complain, bring it to God. I cannot recall when I learned this attitude. But I noticed this in people from the Scriptures. They voiced out all their sentiments to God and not to other people. This is for the reason, that God is the creator of all human beings, He knows each one of us inside and outside.
Furthermore, He understands you and He helps you appreciate others through the Holy Spirit. And He can stir your heart and of others to bring about understanding. Therefore, He is the right person to talk to.
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- Are you a complainer?
- Where do you bring your complaint?
- Do you have a specific person where you run to?
- How often do you run to God when you are troubled?
- And do you call Him when everything in your life is running smoothly?
- Have you accepted that God is your Creator and Jesus is your Saviour? Accept Jesus Now.
- Challenge: This week try not to complain to other people instead voice it out to God.
Related Posts
- Attention, You have a good News for the World
- Yahweh will Show us The Way
- How Is Wife’s Submission To Her Husband Negative?
- David’s prayer
- Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32
- What Is The True Essence Of Submission?
- Keep His Word in Your Hearts
Prayer
Lord God, our heavenly Father. You have created us out of love and know us within and without. We humbly ask for your mercy on our trespasses against you and to others (mention your sins).
Our Saviour Jesus Christ, you have died on the cross to bear our sins. And you have resurrected to be the liaison between us and the Father. We thank you for your saving grace and the opportunity to have eternal life with You and the Father.
May the Holy Spirit be with us always to defend us against the evil one who tempts us to complain rather than be grateful. Keep us always and reprove the ways that we may be worthy to be called followers of Christ.
In Jesus’ saving name, we pray. Amen.
