Our trip home took 38 hours of travel time: cancelled and delayed flights; long, inefficient lines; misplaced and delayed luggage; cramped seating; long layovers.
We travel often, and I usually take these things in stride, but I was especially weary, having dealt with sleepless nights and difficult relationship problems in the preceding weeks.
So, on the last leg of the trip, I let the “old woman” take control and I complained on and off for a good two hours as my husband and I waited in airport lines (Ephesians 4:22-24).
When we finally got to our gate, several strangers began conversations with us, and we shared that we were Christians.
Suddenly it hit me. What if these folks had been standing or walking close enough to overhear my sarcastic, negative remarks? What kind of a witness had I been?
I did myself no good by complaining and I may have harmed my witness for Christ (Philippians 2:14-16; Ephesians 5:15-16).
Help me, Lord, to learn to focus on what is good and rejoice in difficulties which refine my faith (Philippians 4:8; James 1:2-4).
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This situation was a good reminder for me to revisit some devotions from my archives:
⭐10 Reasons Why Complaining is Toxic
⭐The Power of Negative Self-talk
⭐Think About It
⭐Always Witnessing
Bible Love Notes
Studies show that reading has benefits at every age. It helps children develop their language and vocabulary skills, and it exercises adult brains. It can slow down or stop cognitive decline in older adults, and it can also help people to be more sensitive to others (source).
Sadly, fewer and fewer Americans are reading.
But let’s take the importance of reading up a notch to Bible reading.
Bible reading also has these benefits:
1. It helps us avoid sin (Psalm 119:11).
2. It gives us comfort (Psalm 119:52).
3. It gives us good judgment (Psalm 119:66).
4. It keeps us from heading in the wrong direction (Psalm 119:67).
5. It prevents us from doing things that bring us shame (Psalm 119:80).
6. It sustains us in hardship (Psalm 119:92).
7. It gives us wisdom, insight, and understanding (Psalm 119:98-100; 130).
8. It helps us make wise choices (Psalm 119:104).
9. It guides us (Psalm 119:105).
10. It gives us joy (Psalm 119:111; 143).
11. It gives us abundant peace (Psalm 119:165).
Sadly, studies show that fewer people are making the Bible a central part of their lives (source).
Let’s be among those who read, study, trust, and love God’s wonderful Word!
Bible Love Notes
I once talked through past problems with a family member, and we were surprised that both of us remembered things that put us in a good light and forgot the things that we’d done wrong.
This is a human problem:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Some adult children forget their faults but regularly highlight their parents’ failures.
Some friends overlook their rudeness but are highly sensitive to the inconsideration of others.
Some spouses “know” their mate is the main problem in their marriage.
Who can understand our deceitful hearts?
God can (Jeremiah 17:10).
And He gives us this advice:
1. Take the log out (Matthew 7:1-5).
If we don’t deal biblically with our sins, we'll have a deceptive view of other people's sins.
2. Forgive (Matthew 6:15).
Bitterness distorts our view of relationship problems (Hebrews 12:15).
3. Return good for evil (Romans 12:21).
This is a powerful tool against self-deception.(1)
With God's help we can see things as they really are.
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(1) We often deceive ourselves by blaming others for problems we have caused. For example, someone who seems inconsiderate may actually be responding to our inconsiderate behavior. When we return good for evil, we act on the principle that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Even if the other person remains unchanged, we can feel confident that we have dealt with them biblically.
Bible Love Notes
