Correction

(photo from goodhousekeeping.com)

Okay, nothing as embarrassing (but, clearly needed) as a spiritual time out.

Not too long ago, I woke up complaining. It’s a nasty habit I need to break, for sure. But, I clearly heard God say to me, “If you’re complaining about someone, you’re not praying for them. If you were sincerely praying for them, you wouldn’t want to hinder those prayers with doubt, unbelief, grumblings and complaining.” Ouch!

Proverbs 3:12 tells us plainly, “For whom the Lord loves, he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delights.” (KJV)

Of course, He’s right. He’s always right. Those are the arguments we can’t win, there’s no defense when God points out something like that. Conviction sets in, repentance falls from your heart and you start over, yet again.

(photo from parents.com)

Makes me ponder the point: how many of our prayers go unanswered because we ask amiss. (“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss….” – James 4:3 KJV) Surely, it would be considered asking amiss to pray and complain about the same person/situation.

Do you have that one person or situation you find yourself complaining about a lot? In the Old Testament, God became so angry with the Israelites for grumbling and complaining that the ground opened up and swallowed a bunch of them. (Numbers 16)

Thank God for the covenant of grace!

I just wanted to share this “spanking” with all of you, so that God doesn’t have to chastise you, too. Or, perhaps, so that He can use this blog post to do the chastising for Him.

Heads up: Complaining and praying do NOT go hand in hand.

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-26 (KJV)

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go they way; first be reconciled to they brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV)

(picture from weclipart.com)