Nnumbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” Numbers 21:4-5

God had just given the Israelites what they had been praying for, victory over the Cananites, their mortal enemies. But as soon as God answers their prayer they begin to complain about God’s catering service. In every situation you can find something to complain about and you can find something to be thankful about. Yesterday I was visiting a dear follower of Christ who has been battling for nearly 2 years with a painful case of cancer. She is house bound and facing challenges that most would just give up on. Every time I have talked to this child of God over these many months I have always gone away encouraged. I’m haven’t been necessary encouraged because of her physical battle because that has been up and down but because of her surprisingly positive attitude. She in not an unrealistic syrupy optimist, she is realistic with her life, challenges, and spiritual battles but she also chooses to find God’s goodness in her life. We have a decision to make every morning we wake up. We can either find things to be thankful for or find things to complain about. If you have programmed your mind to be negative, you will have to reprogram it to be positive (Romans 12:1-2). I suggest that you begin a “I’m thankful for”, list and make it a point to add at least 2 things to that list every day. And then every time you are tempted to complain make sure you give thanks to God for at least 3 things before you let out your complaint. You might find that your complaint will simply be forgotten.


God Bless,

Pastor Rick

Next Reading: Num 24-27; 1 Cor. 13