Anytime the Israelites faced a discomfort, they grumbled. They had no "build" to their faith. If circumstances were not EXACTLY as they expected, then they felt like the situation was too big for God. In fact, it was as if they never considered God at all. The miracles He did seemed merely momentary relief to them and had no lasting spiritual value in their perception. How could they see God when their focus was so much on themselves--their discomforts, their appetites, their enemies? With their gaze turned inward to self and its limitations, they could give nothing more than a passing glance at God's presence.
Instead of resting in God's power and provision, they stressed over their lack of control. They were disgruntled with not being able to dictate their next move and agitated over their inability to indulge their carnal whims. Their state of mind sabotaged their faith and their inner peace. What if they had looked to God instead? If they would have relaxed and trusted, they would have noted that everything was on God's shoulders. They could have enjoyed the journey knowing that an exciting destination lay ahead and that God would see them safely to the fulfillment of His promise.
Mindset plays a similar role in our lives. Our desire for control can render us as disgruntled and out-of-sorts as the children of Israel. And we'll likely respond just as they did, with complaining and fault-finding. As in the Israelites' case, the object of ridicule is often God and His servants--the leadership in our lives: pastors, church workers, bosses, the head of the home, authority figures. But if we are people of faith, we have no need for blame. We are not looking at issues, nor are we hoping to find answers within ourselves. We are attuned to God. With God in charge, the middle man and personal abilities have little to do with outcomes. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we will not feel like we are going from failure to failure. We will not travel from one frustration to another. We will grow from faith to faith and from glory to glory, and we will find God's best surprises reveled in the unexpected.
2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Tip/Tidbit: How much are you enjoying your life? If you are looking for greater peace, perhaps it is time to lift your eyes to God and put your faith in the One who has an amazing love for you.
Instead of resting in God's power and provision, they stressed over their lack of control. They were disgruntled with not being able to dictate their next move and agitated over their inability to indulge their carnal whims. Their state of mind sabotaged their faith and their inner peace. What if they had looked to God instead? If they would have relaxed and trusted, they would have noted that everything was on God's shoulders. They could have enjoyed the journey knowing that an exciting destination lay ahead and that God would see them safely to the fulfillment of His promise.
Mindset plays a similar role in our lives. Our desire for control can render us as disgruntled and out-of-sorts as the children of Israel. And we'll likely respond just as they did, with complaining and fault-finding. As in the Israelites' case, the object of ridicule is often God and His servants--the leadership in our lives: pastors, church workers, bosses, the head of the home, authority figures. But if we are people of faith, we have no need for blame. We are not looking at issues, nor are we hoping to find answers within ourselves. We are attuned to God. With God in charge, the middle man and personal abilities have little to do with outcomes. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we will not feel like we are going from failure to failure. We will not travel from one frustration to another. We will grow from faith to faith and from glory to glory, and we will find God's best surprises reveled in the unexpected.
2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Tip/Tidbit: How much are you enjoying your life? If you are looking for greater peace, perhaps it is time to lift your eyes to God and put your faith in the One who has an amazing love for you.
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