Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Whine (05/23/13)
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TITLE: Enter The Holy Spirit | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gail Burks
05/30/13 -
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After all, I’m past the age of fifty and have had countless talks with myself and to God. But, it seemed these monologues were becoming more frequent.
Or, was I communicating directly to God, or in other words, praying?
But, I soon realized that what I was doing was not praying. So, how do I know these monologues did not constitute prayer? I’ll respond to that in a minute......
In reflection, I guess most people do talk to themselves. Especially while driving alone in the car, watching a program solo on TV, or by rehearsing the day’s events audibly.
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But, I did none of this. I just talked about me and my troubles. More specifically, how extremely difficult my life had been lately. How nobody seemed to understand. How I needed to take a vacation. How my children were ungrateful....shall I go on?
It was certainly evident, in the course of time, that the tone of these one-sided discourses were meant to be self-soothing. But, were they really? These talks began to incorporate a strong hint of ‘whine’.
Yes, you heard correctly --- whine.
Just enough complaining to make my words palatable, to make my tone appealing, and to make me sound foolish. To whom? To me. How comforting!
So, after a twenty minute, one-sided dialogue about how mistreated I felt at home; how my husband doesn’t communicate like he should; how my grown children still remark as to who I didn’t give them the best in life, something awakened inside me said ‘STOP WHINING AND COMPLAINING!”
Enter the Holy Spirit.
Immediately, I was convicted and was quickly reminded that, as a child of God, life is full of disappointments and troubles. Why shouldn’t it be? If Jesus could withstand the persecution as the Son of God, how much more could I suffer being misaligned and misunderstood, at times?
I then reminisced about all the trials and tribulations the Lord brought me and my family through, and how we are still standing strong.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Lord, for being so selfish. You have been faithful to me and I need to trust you more.”
As I prayed these words, a sense of peace encompassed me and I knew that my prior conversations were just another tactic of the enemy to get me to doubt.
Summarizing, I guess it is okay to vent, cry, whine and scream, sometimes. That’s not only our prerogative as humans, but as Christians, as well.
But, I realize we shouldn’t turn these discourses into non-stop complaints. That is extremely unfruitful and unproductive.
I am truly grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for gently exposing my frailties and weaknesses.
Thank you, Lord for the lessons learned and for the continued opportunities to grow and develop into the woman you would have me to be.
Truly, I will not be conformed any longer to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I may be able to test and approve what God’s will is for my life --- His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12: 2).
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Loved your prayer at the end! Thank you for sharing.
God bless~