So, this week, there was in a cycle of complaint in my family.  Whine, whine, whine.  A grumbling attitude.  During a teachable moment, I responded with “God hates complaining…and when you think about it, complaining does not help you solve your problem.”  My correction did stop the verbal complaint, but my bigger goal is to impact the heart.

As I was meditating on this grumbling spirit in our home and what to do about it, I had to first take a look at myself.  Is there sin in myself that I have caused to trickle down to my family? And, it dawned on me that there are many times when I pray and complain to God.  “Lord, I’m not happy in this area…or this one…just fix it and please give me what I want.”  Whine, whine, whine.

I read somewhere that even if Jesus never did another thing for me outside of what He did for me on the cross…if I truly meditated on His selfless act of love which saved me from the depravity of my sin and eternal damnation, then I would sing His praises all day long, all the days of my life.  With Christ in view, I would never have cause to complain about a single thing.

The truth is that Jesus does abundantly more for me than He did at Calvary.  Psalm 23 is seeped in His care for us.  He is my ever-present Shepherd.  He restores my soul.  When I follow His voice, He leads me to everything I need.  He is my ever-present help.  And, He wants to be with me forever.

I read in my daughter’s devotion last night that joy is the flag of my heart, which indicates therein the King resides.  If I am not being joyful, then, who is residing on the throne of my heart?

May we be ever challenged to confess our selfishness and ask God daily for grace to keep Jesus as High King of our heart.  Then, we will fly high the flag of joy, and reflect the beauty of Jesus to the world around us.

Blessings and hugs,
Marci