Don't Let God's Blessings Become Common

So, I’m finding that inspiration may come while watching a movie. Most recently, I was watching The Prince of Egypt. As a kid, I loved this movie! I know the words to every song. The movie depicts the well-known Biblical story of the children of Israel’s deliverance from slavery. There are so many things that can be learned from the story of the Israelites.

As I watched the movie, I was amazed at their response to the miracles that happened on their behalf. Who’s seen a pillar of fire? Most of us would have freaked at the sight of a bed full of frogs or gnats. I’m disgusted over a single hair bump let alone a body covered in boils. And don’t even get me started with the Red Sea. After seeing all of this, one would think their faith in the power of God would be unshakeable. Yet they still chose to complain and doubt God.

How many times have we done the same? In my personal life, there have been times when I forgot the goodness of God. He’s provided food and a home for me. Yet I complain about the amount of clothes in my closet. Other times I worry about paying bills during a season of not working. How is it that I so quickly forgot the times of His provision? Unbeknownst to me, I judged the Israelites for something that I do constantly.

So, how do we combat this issue? We must continuously rehearse the goodness of God. It was the reason the children of Israel sung hymns and observed festivals. They told their children of the time the Lord Passover them. They told their children of how He delivered them with a mighty hand. When God does something for you, tell someone. Write it down. When times get hard, you can go back and look over what God has done for you.

Another way that we can practice a life of gratitude is by rehearsing scriptures. Search the Bible for scriptures that speak to your situation. Then declare those scriptures over your life. God is a healer. Even if we may feel sick, we must confess His word as truth. Complaints don’t move God’s hand, but our faith will move mountains. Keep His word constantly before you. Place them on your mirror. Sing them in your car. Speak the truth instead of your situation.

Scripture References: I Corinthians 5-12 (NLT) “But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”