Negativity.
It surrounds me and curls me in its tentacles, choking me until the darkness creeps over my eyes and I no longer see the Light. My gasps for air drown out my praises. I am desperate for help. Flailing wildly, I reach for those around me. I draw them into my clutches, and succeed only in bringing them into the trap with me. Together, we sink.
I need to be intentional about staying far away from negativity, and its source. There are idols I need to cast aside, people I need to limit interaction with, and words I need to stop uttering. Which brings me to challenge myself for the remaining three weeks of September.
I.will.not.complain.
For my own good. For the good of my husband and my daughter. For the good of my friends. For the good of my Lord.
I'm praying that my heart will be changed by the end of this experiment and that it will make an impact on others around me.
Everything about which we are tempted to complain may be the very instrument whereby the Potter intends to shape His clay into the image of His Son - a headache, an insult, a long line at the check-out, someone's rudeness or failure to say thank you, misunderstanding, disappointment, interruption. As Amy Carmichael said, "See in it a chance to die", meaning a chance to leave self behind and say YES to the will of God, to be "comfortable unto His death." Not a morbid martyr-complex but a peaceful and happy contentment in the assurance that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Wouldn't our children learn godliness if they saw the example of contentment instead of complaint? acceptance instead of rebellion? peace instead of frustration?
Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart
Are you with me?
(Comments are open so that we can hold each other accountable)
6 comments:
YES! Because right now, in particular, I'm tempted to share my misery with the world instead of just being grateful. It's hard enough to be constantly sick - but it affects the entire household if I complain about it.
I hear everything you are saying, acknowledge my own failings in this area, and commit to working on this for the rest of September. As you said - it's for my Lord.
I'm with you!
Standing with you here too! I choose thanksgiving! Thanks for the encouragement... AND the conviction.
I'm with you, too! Interesting that this topic is on so many blogs I've read in the past week.
Can be quite the struggle, esp. when you're surrounded by negativity in people you CAN'T really limit your interaction with.
I am always convicted by Philippians 2 where Paul says to do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. If I want to shine like a star as I hold out the word of life, I must cease my complaining! Talk about conviction!
I am in!
This I read in my quiet time:
"Whatever is a matter of our care, let it be a matter of our prayer;
and let us allow no care which we cannot in faith spread before God. And whatever is the matter of our rejoicing, let it be the matter of our thanksgiving; and let us withhold our hearts from all those joys which do not dispose us for the duty of praise"
Matthew Henry on Family Religion, p.43
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