No Complaining Or Arguing - Are you Kidding?

Reference: Philippians 2:13-14a For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing . . .

Observation: First, it is not easy to live a life (“do everything”) without arguing or complaining. They come so very naturally to us. That is probably why Paul makes it clear that if we can live that way we really will stand out (like the stars on a dark night).

Secondly, As we strive for it, what we ought to be thankful to know is that God gives us both the power and the desire to please Him. We so often think that it is us who are able to choose to and discipline ourselves to please God. It may be even a little bit of a let down to know that God, really, is responsible both for the desire and the power that makes it happen. All we do is to be willing to cooperate.

Application/Confession: I love to argue. I know by now in my life that it does more harm than good. I have not been able to fully rid myself of it, but I am asking God to give me the desire and power to do so.

PRAYER: Lord, free me from my tendency to want to show others, by arguing, that I am always right. Teach me the power of living free from arguing or complaining. You have done so much for me, I have nothing to complain about.