THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING

NUMBERS 11:1-35

1. Complaining is Natural. Numbers 11:1-3
2. Complaining is usually inaccurate. Numbers 11:4-6
3. Complaining is Contagious. Numbers 11:10
4. Complaining is an Insult to God. Numbers 11:10,18-20
5. Complaining unchecked leads to Death. Numbers 11:31-34

 What tempts ME to complain?

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Is there a way to maintain a spirit of JOY & GRATITUDE  even when life isn’t going the way I want it to?

Your JOY is not attached to your situation anywhere near as strongly as it’s attached to your perspective.

PERSPECTIVE SHAPING PASSAGES:

            Philippians 4:4-7   “The Lord is Near.”

I Peter 1:6-7  “trials are given to Refine & Reveal my faith.”

WAYS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY, GOD-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE:

1. Keep a gratitude journal.
2. Make time for silence.
3. Surround yourself with the right people.
4. Fight the Fight - resist complaining with gratitude & humility

My NEXT STEP with God, THIS WEEK is to…

• …choose one of the “Ways to maintain a healthy, God-centered perspective” and put it into practice.
• …read the account of Jesus’ crucifixion (Mark 14:12-16:8) in one sitting as a perspective-shaper.
• …join the follow-up discussion at one of the three home groups.
• …with God’s help, abandon a specific way I complain and replace it with gratitude (use “The Truth about Complaining” from your notes as a helpful reminder).