I once heard a statement that stopped me in my tracks. It was so profound and insightful. The comment was, “Complaining is to the devil what praise and thanksgiving is to God.”
Stop and think about that for a moment, let it sink way down deep inside.
Complaining is to the devil what praise and thanksgiving is to God. Andrew Wommack says, “Praise isn’t like the caboose that just follows what happens, but it’s more like the engine of a train that makes things happen.” Kenneth Copeland says, “Praise is the big gun of faith.”
If these two statements are true and they are, then complaining is the engine that makes things happen on the negative side. Furthermore, complaining is a big gun of doubt and unbelief.
No one wants a big gun of doubt and unbelief working on their behalf – I know I don’t!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
It is the will of God for us to continually give thanks in all things. It is not the will of God for us to complain. Philippians 2:14 tells us to do everything without complaining or questioning.
This I know. Faith obtains the promises of God. Complaining hinders the promises of God.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to give the devil any weapons to use against me. Therefore, I choose not to complain and murmur. I absolutely refuse. I am not saying it is easy. Frankly, there are times when we are standing in faith, confessing the Word, doing everything in our power to lay hold of the promises of God, yet not seeing the results we want to see. In those times, it is very difficult to not complain, or at least, not rehearse the facts as we see them looming before us. However, this is the most important time to refuse to complain. Refuse to doubt.
When the opposite of what you are standing in faith for is staring you in the face – refuse to speak what you see – speak ONLY, ONLY what the Word of God says. And in those times, give praise. Praising in the midst of results we have not yet seen will really confuses the enemy. That’s our stand – having done all – stand. Stand and praise.
Choose to give God praise and thanksgiving regardless of what you see with your eyes. Regardless of what is going on around you. There is always something to be thankful for. Always.
It was murmuring and complaining that kept the children of Israel out of their Promised Land and it is what will keep us out of ours. 1 Corinthians 10:10
says; “And do not murmur, in unwarranted discontent, as some of them did—and were destroyed by the destroyer.” (Amplified)
Ephesians 4:27 tells us to give no place to the devil, or the destroyer as this scripture calls him. We give him place when we murmur and complain. We are in a pivotal time. It is vital we do things to advance toward our promise. That being said, it is just as important that we don’t do things to hinder our blessings.
Today, make up your mind to refuse to complain. Refuse to give place to the devil. Refuse to give him something to work with. Instead, continue to declare the promise of God. Continue to praise God for His faithfulness. Continue to trust Him. As you do, may you enter into all the promises of God. For you and your family.
