Day 2: Guarding Against a Spirit of Complaint
It is easy to slip from gratitude into complaint, especially when our needs or desires are not met as quickly or in the way we expect. The Israelites, after experiencing God’s miracles, quickly became demanding and forgetful of His past faithfulness. We too can become entitled, expecting more from God while neglecting to thank Him for what He has already done. A heart of gratitude opens us to God’s blessings, while a complaining spirit blinds us to His goodness and can lead us away from trust. Let us remember to thank God for every blessing, big or small, and resist the urge to grumble when things are not as we wish.

Philippians 2:14-15 (KJV)
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Reflection: Think of one thing you have recently complained about—can you turn that complaint into a prayer of gratitude today, thanking God for His provision even in that area?