So, I have been on vacation, and I have made some observations I feel should be shared today. My family and I attended a great church service where the pastor talked about complaining and how as Christians, we tend to have an Israelite like attitude. I have also noticed a lack of respect in people in general, over the last few months. Today I will share about acting like Moses, instead of the people he was leading, for my next post we will discuss respect. I think both of these points are very vital, because we do not realize that we have these problems, they are human nature. But when you know they exist, it is much easier to catch yourself and guard yourself against them. Being able to guard against them leads to a happy, Christ-led life that ministers to all of those around you without even knowing it.
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, as God had instructed, and they still complained about where they were. They were on their way to The Promised Land, but could not see past where they were in the desert. Moses obeyed God and did as He was instructed, regardless of how he felt, or what he saw. God continuously provided for the Israelites in the desert, despite their poor attitude. They complained and asked Moses why God took them out of Egypt where they were slaves but had the things they needed. God just wanted them to trust Him. There is much more to the story, in Exodus chapters 16-18, especially. But the point of the story is that the Israelites complained and grumbled even though they were fully provided for.
Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT) states “In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” This does not just mean when you are happy where you are, “in everything you do” means EVERYTHING. There is power in our words and the way we speak about those around us and our personal circumstances will largely determine our attitude. When our attitude toward things is positive regardless of how things are perceived from the outside, it is a testament to the inner strength we have to make the choice to be positive.
My husband and I have determined that we will always refer to each other positively, whether we are together or in the presence of others. Many couples refer to each other as “The boss”, “My Old Lady/Man”, “The Old Ball and Chain” or other negative things that would cause others to see your spouse in that negative light. We have decided too, that when you speak those words to others, you sub-consciously begin to see your spouse that way. Zig Ziglar talks about how he will always refer to his wife as His Bride, never as anything else. I do not know his exact reasoning, I am researching it though. I feel this is a very important thing for a marriage that we watch our words and how we cause ourselves to view those around us.
This applies to more than just our marriage though, it is vital for our Walk. It is a hard transition at first, but when we determine to find the positive in everything, it becomes much easier. The longer you do it, the more of a habit it becomes.
No comments:
Post a Comment