HIS VOICE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY, 28TH JULY 2024
TOPIC: MURMURING AND COMPLAINING
TEXT: NUMBERS 11:1a
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD : and the LORD heard it
It's so easy to complain and murmur, especially in our present time, where discontentment and discouragement is the order of the day. However, as believers, our mouth and tongue are instructed to be yielded to God in thanksgiving and an expression of our desires in supplication, petition and prayers, rather than in complaint.
I was shocked when I studied the verse above. It says the people complained (the Amplified version explained that their complain was about their hardship). But the King James version stated that the Lord was displeased, and he heard it. Despite of the legal reason to complain and murmur, we must recognise that it is displeasing to the Lord. He would rather have his children to trust him and pour their hearts unto him, than express with their lips all the discontentment and discouragement that exist.
How did God heard their words of complain? It seems to me that complaining should be a trivial issue. Alas! Just like you, I was wrong. God hates murmuring. It displeases him and he hears it. Which means that the sound of discontentment and discouragement voiced out in a defeated and subjective manner is not pleasing to the Lord. And since it displeases the Lord, we must desist from it.
This will require certain level of intentionality and consciousness. You and I won't be able to achieve this without the help of the Lord. I am convinced that when we pour our hearts to the Lord for help to remain thoughtful and grateful in spite of any circumstances or situation we find ourselves, he will indeed unleash his grace and strength on us to speak wisely and thankfully.
God judges complaining and murmuring. Let's read the concluding part of that verse, it says "And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp." Numbers 11:1 KJV
May we not be consumed by the fire of God. May he continuously show us his great mercies and kindness. Stop complaining, rather talk to the Lord in prayer.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for your words are pure and right. Help me to be intentional about my reaction to situations and circumstances, that I may learn to use my lips and mouth rightly and not to complain and murmur against your faithfulness and goodness in Jesus' name. Amen
Written by: Mopelola Oyeniran
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