Praise
or Complain
(Choices:
Its your call by: William F. Hill
Which
force is the greatest in your life—praising or complaining?
We
have the opportunity upon arising each day to make a choice or a decision. We
can look for the good in that day, or we can expect the bad. We can have faith,
or we can doubt. We can be thankful or we can complain. It’s no wonder that
multitudes of people love to read from the Book of Psalms in the bible. The
Psalms will not leave us in a negative frame of mind very long. Soon we will be
reading words of praise and victory. The Psalmist, David, often began a Psalm
in a negative note, but soon entered the area of praise.
(Psalm 13:1-4)
“How long wilt thou forget
me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall
I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine
enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine
eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed
against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.”
Isnt
it good to know that you are not the only one who faces trials and tests? David
was not someone who tried to fake his way through. He was a real person with
real problems. And yet, he would always break through to victory.
(Psalms 13:5-6)
“But I have trusted in thy
mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord,
because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”
Let me challenge you to read all of Psalm 144.
Notice the words of David.
(Psalms 144:11-15)
“Rid me, and deliver me from
the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand
is a right hand of falsehood: That our sons may be as plants grown up in their
youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the
similitude of a palace: That our garners may be full, affording all manner of
store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our
streets: That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in,
nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that
people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the
Lord.”
I
have for years been impressed with the words, “….that there be no complaining
in our streets.” And then notice, “Happy is that people, that is in such a
case…” Complaining makes us weary. It saps our strength. We become easily
discouraged and weak. Did you ever notice the words of Asaph in Psalm 73?
He
had taken his eyes off God and put them on people. When he did that he almost
gave up.
(Psalm 73:1-17)
“Truly God is good to
Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were
almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish,
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death:
but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are
they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they
have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly
concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the
heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people
return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say,
How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most high? Behold, there are
the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have
cleansed my heart in vain, washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long
have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus;
behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought
to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of
God; then understood I their end.”
It
is so easy to get our eyes off God and on to others. The victory comes when we
look to God.
(Hebrews 12:1-3)
“Wherefore seeing we also
are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider
him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds.”
Remember,
the battle is taking place in your mind. This is where the battle will be won
or lost.
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
“We are troubled on every
side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but
not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
(Philippians
4:8)
“Finally
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things.”
Do
you remember in Psalm 13 when David asked “How long wilt thou forget me, O
Lord? For ever?”
Did
you ever feel that way? And did God forget David? It might interest you to know
that the name of David appears more times in the Bible than any other name
except our Lord. In fact, the name of David appears in the last chapter of the
last book in the Bible and is mentioned by the Lord Himself.
(Revelation 22:16)
“I Jesus have sent mine
angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the
offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
So ,
what will be your choice? To praise or complain?
By Missionary Dinah Ramos
