Just gotta say it...

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life... (Philippians 2:14-16)

Oh boy, I am gonna meddle this morning! How many times do you find it hard not to complain about something that is happening around you? You and I both have issues that arise, causing us to want to little more than complain about them. The stock falls, the interest rate rises, the grocery bill is higher each time we go, the shelves don't contain the can of soup we wanted, and the list goes on. It is indeed a difficult thing to face 'issues' without some form of complaint (even the silent ones we don't utter), isn't it? Living our lives without complaint or argument is difficult, but is it possible?

God wouldn't tell us to live that way if it were not possible. We have often explored the importance of having the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and actions, and even affect our attitude toward things. Is it possible there is a link between the Holy Spirit guiding our lives and this ability to live without complaint or argument? It could be the ONLY link that will actually help us live this way! The Holy Spirit is our 'direct link' to the strength we need to rise above arguments and to exercise a life of gratitude in the midst of disappointment. 

The more we take time to ask the Holy Spirit to help us 'divide' the Word of Life (God's Word) - taking it in, allowing him to help us 'digest' a bit of it each time, and then walk in that truth - the less we will find ourselves complaining about life. If we haven't figured it out by now, we don't like disappointment. Whenever our 'wishes' are not met, our expectations are dashed, and we feel disappointment. Maybe the key to living as a bright light in this world is to allow the Holy Spirit access to our day before we get too involved in that day. 

The wisdom we need may not be what we are seeking. Remember this - God may give us what we need long before he gives us what we want. Why? We would only complain about what we received because we weren't really ready to receive it! We need to have our hearts prepared to receive what we need. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within - to prepare our hearts to receive not only what we want, but what it is we need most. Remember - the Lord's Prayer asks for God to give us this day our daily bread and forgive our sins - what we need most, even when we don't actually know we want it. Just sayin!