Sunday 29 March 2015

Complaints Department

'Wow' just had a knock between the eyeballs! Well that is rather an exaggeration! I am so very challenged about the simple word 'complaining'!



I have just been studying the book of Numbers where Miriam and Aaron complain against Moses taking a Cushite wife and criticise him, Numbers 12, and Miriam develops leprosy as a result. Miriam and Aaron together repent and apologise to Moses who prays, Numbers 12:13, and she is healed! BUT there are consequences and she is put out of the city for seven days. As a result of Moses' prayer God shows His wonderful mercy and she does not need to be cast out forever, WOW such mercy!

The children of Israel in their first year after crossing the Red Sea have three times where they complain to Moses, and look through rose coloured spectacles at their time in Egypt, Numbers 11:5. They come against Moses as their leader, Numbers 14:1-4. God gets really angry at their criticism and complaints as really the people are criticising and complaining against God Himself, showing unbelief, ungratefulness, selfishness and sin.


This whole study has really challenged me, so after asking the Holy Spirit to highlight when I am complaining out loud or in my thoughts I have been really horrified how much I complain about silly little things, but all these

words come from a heart that is NOT focusing on God and His ways. Jesus had so many opportunities to complain in a derogatory way but His heart of Love always spoke the Truth.

When we complain out loud it develops a darkness round about us. Also if we think 'complaints and criticism' we find ourselves getting more miserable in our minds. Lots of these thoughts are not even our business and if we share them with someone else it seems to add power to the complaint and justify our opinion and disobedience towards our Father.






Complaining and criticism is endemic to our society and perpetrated by the media. All the more reason, if we love Jesus and His love is spread abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, (Romans 5:5) for us to be different. We must allow the Holy Spirit to grow His fruit in us and not tie His hands by the words that come out of our mouths. Run to Jesus and, like Moses, pray ' Lord heal me' also 'Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven', there is no criticism or complaining in heaven!!



'The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds..... of complaining.... we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus Christ' 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.


'Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things'. Philippians 4:8

Now praise Him ALL day x

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