Made New

Jan 9 – Jan 15

You Have Been Blessed

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  01/11/21

Read Exodus 15:22-27.

Have you ever noticed that the people who do the most griping, complaining, and murmuring are often the most blessed? Think about it. In America, we enjoy freedom and prosperity, yet many people can’t help but be ungrateful. At the same time, those with very little are often the most joyful. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because the more a person has, the more they want, and the more dissatisfied they become.

The Israelites in the wilderness had been given so much. God Himself heard their cries and delivered them from slavery. He brought ten miraculous plagues upon the nation of Egypt and even parted the Red Sea to bring them across on dry land. God’s very presence was with them in a pillar of cloud and fire. And yet, even with all of these gifts, the people were constantly whining to Moses and Aaron.

Without God’s Spirit renewing us day by day, we are not very different from those early Israelites. Our old nature is prone to dissatisfaction, discontentment, and discord—to complaining, griping, and criticizing.

In contrast, our new, Spirit-filled hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise for God’s blessings. So if you find yourself struggling with dissatisfaction today, ask the Lord to help connect you with your new heart in Christ. If you know Jesus, He has snatched you away from the jaws of hell and brought you into His glorious Kingdom. This is reason enough to celebrate and praise God today and every day!

Prayer: God, forgive me for being so hard-hearted so often. I confess that I am prone to grumbling rather than resting in You—my all in all. May my heart be overjoyed as I consider Your Gospel. Change me, Lord, so that I might honor You with a grateful heart. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?'” (Exodus 15:24).