Daily Devo: June 21 Questions for the heart

Daily Devotional to begin our day the right way!

Memory THIS week: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalms 141:3

Memory last week verse: Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits. Psalms 103:1-2

Okay, Okay so I feel like we should all be at a point of finally admitting 1) we complain, like A LOT and 2) it’s affecting our relationship with God, like A LOT. I don’t know about you and your habits, but I feel like I always come back to struggling with the HOW to stop. Why do I do it in the first place? What are some realistic ways to stop myself from doing it?

When my kids come to me and tattle, probably yours too, I always ask them a few preliminary questions. There are the funny ones like “Does it require an ambulance, Does it involve ninjas, Did you call Ghostbusters first?”, but there are 3 qualifying ones that I think even apply to us and we will put verses to them in a minute.

Does this need to be said? 

Does this need to be said by me?

Does this need to be said by me right now?

With those 3 questions, you can eliminate about 90% of the unnecessary complaints and nonsense. It’s so simple, I LOVE it. Now let’s go to Scripture and apply it.

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Does your motive for “complaining” fit this description? If this does not describe you while saying what you are about to say, it’s best that you DON’T.
• Ephesians 4:1-3 Does this describe you as you are issuing your list of “wrongs”? No? Then better check your heart on this one.
• Hebrews 13:16-17 Did you just say “But…” Then let me tell you about the famous philosopher Aristopal Just stop right there.
• Colossians 3:12-14 Here’s how you do it. If you have a complaint, handle it with care.

Don’t let grumbling ruin all the good being worked in you. What you say matters. What you do matters. YOU are a reflection of Christ or you are a reflection of you. Either you point the way to eternal salvation and grace or you point the way to eternal damnation. Yes, it really is that critical that we are who we say we are.  Words are powerful. Make them count.