Tag: #complaining

How to Turn Victory Into Defeat?

Text:

Exodus 15:6 (ESV)

6  Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

Observation:

Last week I had the privilege of leading a small group discussion on the topic, “Drama in the Desert”. There are lessons we can learn from this recount of God’s people then that has application for us today.

Exodus 15:24-25 (NLT)

24  Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded.

25  So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him.

The Lord had delivered the children from many years of slavery in Egypt. He parted the Red Sea, and they arrived safely in the wilderness, where He intended for them to worship Him, and continue to the Promised Land.

They got off to a good start; they begin to worship the Lord for all He had done for them.

Exodus 15:1-2 (NLT)

1  Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

2  The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

However, they went from worshipping to murmuring and whining.

Exodus 15:23-24 (NLT)

23  When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”).

24  Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded.

When you face difficulties in your journey toward God’s promises to you, don’t languish in the valley of despair. Rise up, and look up to our Father in heaven. God is willing, ready, and able; He is your hope and help.

Oh, that we can learn from this story, and be encouraged to be better, and do better by the power of Holy Spirit who lives in our heart.

Prayer:

Father, help us to see the realities we face through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us. Then, we will see our life, and our circumstances as you see them.

Father, we confess, and turn from whining, and we turn to worshipping the God who saved us, keeps us, and has prepared a home for us in heaven. Father, we trust in You, and know that You will never let us down. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

How David Handled A Difficult Season of Trouble

Text:

Psalm 39:1-4 (ESV)

1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2  I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.

3  My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4  “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Observation:

In this Psalm David peels away some of the layers of his life to reveal the struggles he was facing.

In spite of his distress, and the difficulties he was facing personally, he resisted blaming God for his troubles. He remained silent before the Lord.

Psalm 39:7-9 (ESV)

7  “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

8  Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9  I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

David realized that the chastening of the Lord was a sign of God’s love for him. The best response to God’s chastening is to submit to God’s will, and allow Him to have His way in our life.

There is peace, power, and provisions when we take our troubles to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 39:12 (ESV)

12  “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.

It pays to pray, watch, and wait on the Lord. Remember that God’s delay is not His denial.

Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that we would always be willing to bring all of our needs to You in prayer.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Father, I am so thankful that we can trust in You with our whole heart; and that You are willing, and able to help us.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

Why We Need to Examine Our Walk

Text:

Exodus 15:2-3 (HCSB)

2  The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

3  The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.

Observation:

When the people walked by sight, this is what they got. The sound you hear is that of the people complaining.

Exodus 14:10-12 (HCSB)

10  As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help.

11  They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

12  Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

However, when they walked by faith, they saw the mighty hand of God protecting, and providing for them.  The sound that you hear in our focal passage for today is the sound of praising God, and rejoicing in the God who delivers His people.

Prayer:

Father, help us to always remember that we walk by faith, and not by sight. Lord, help us to never forget You, and all of Your mighty acts that You have done for us.

Exodus 15:2 (HCSB)

2  The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

Father, may the praise coming from our heart be a sweet sound in Your ears. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry