PSALM 103:1-5 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. “
THEME OF THE DAY: OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL AMNESIA AND THE SIN OF COMPLAINING. There are two deadly attitudes that are easily allowed in the lives of Christians. These will stop us in our tracks in our spiritual lives. If tolerated, gone will be sweet fellowship with the Lord, the joy of the Lord, and our times in the Bible, prayer, even church, will be reduced to mere lifeless and mechanical routine, or worse viewed and practiced as dull obligations. These are examples of “spiritual amnesia,” forgetting all the countless blessings we receive from the Lord, and on the heels of this attitude, will be the sin of complaining about what we don’t have in our lives or what is happening in our lives. In today’s scripture, the Psalmist, David, helps us to overcome the first – spiritual amnesia – so we will prevent the latter – the sin of complaining.
First, grasp the importance of proper thinking in the Christian life. David gives the command “don’t forget the Lord’s benefits” in our lives. Friends, we are responsible for what we put into our minds, and what we allow our thoughts to be. The Apostle Paul in writing to the believers in Philippi gives this exhortation – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8). He would also add in his letter to the Romans our responsibility to foster right thinking – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).
There are two forces that will shape how we think – the world or the Word. If we allow the former, we will suffer spiritual amnesia and forget the Lord’s blessings in our lives. That is because of the sin of selfishness. Our world is consumed with self and an entitlement mentality of “I deserve” attitude. And if Christians spend more time with worldly inputs into their minds instead of God’s Word shaping their minds, they will forget God’s blessings and the sin of complaining will come knocking at the door of their hearts, and it will not take “no” when seeking entrance!
The second thing we are to do to prevent spiritual amnesia that leads to the sin of complaining is to discipline our minds to daily think on the Lord’s blessings. Don’t be mindless. Don’t just execute daily routines in life. Take time to specifically remember the Lord’s blessings. David did. He listed some of them – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. God won’t think for us. He won’t bring the necessary mental discipline to think upon Himself and His blessings, but He has given us His Word and Spirit to guide and empower us. So, be purposeful. Take time daily to think and thank the Lord for His specific blessings in our lives. In doing so, we will prevent spiritual amnesia and the sin of complaining.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I take for granted Your many blessings in my life and complain for what I think I lack.”
QUOTE: “Stop and count our blessings in life. It is the sure-fire way to stop the sin of complaining in our lives.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim