“Replacing Complaining With Thanksgiving”

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

When we complain, we talk about what we lack. We complain because we lack comfort—our income level isn't high enough, the work environment isn't pleasant enough, the kids don't behave well enough, the person near us in church doesn't sing well enough. We complain because we lack control—the weather ruins our plans, the homeowner's association changes the rules against our votes, our spouse simply refuses to meet our needs. And we complain because we lack what we want, which is the umbrella concept for everything else that we complain about.

On the other hand, when we give thanks, we think about what we have. Especially as Christians, we ponder what God gives and what God is. God gives comfort—the kind of comfort that motivated those who died for their faith and expected greater rewards after it was over. God is in control—the Scriptures are replete with reminders that no king, no disaster, & no lesser law can keep God from accomplishing what he has promised to do. God is what we need, and if our hearts are right, he becomes more and more what we want.

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."  (Col. 2:6-7)

- Dan Lankford, minister

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