Exciting, challenging, convicting. A new Bible study for me
to work through, in which looking at changing my attitude is key. What?! Me,
needing an attitude change? Okay, maybe just a little bit.
The first chapter deals with complaining and takes us into
the wilderness with that group of grumps, those constant crabs, the stars of
strife, in the Old Testament. Yeah, you know who. Moses’ herd of murmuring cats.
None of us are that bad. Or are we? Today in our discussion group we talked
about how quickly we forget the great and mighty things God has done in our
lives and like the grumblers, we let our desires run wild because somehow we
don’t think he’s going to come through for us again. (Psalm 106:13-14)
It’s been good to be reminded recently of a time a dozen or
so years ago when God used nature’s beauties and wonders to teach me how to
remember his faithfulness.
It was a spring Saturday morning. My mom, my daughter, Kim,
and I braved uncertain weather conditions to go ‘garage saling.’ As we left our
car to explore one more treasure site, our eyes were drawn upward to an intense
blue, frosted with clouds—the kind you want to put in a waffle cone for licking.
The air almost tingled; the hillsides, sunshine glorious.
“Mom,” Kim exclaimed suddenly. “Look behind us!”
Turning, we marveled at the difference. Black clouds towered
and rain sheeted down in the distance. Moments before we’d traveled sunny roads
over which the storm now raged.
I’ve weathered a number of storms since then. And you can
bet I’m not talking meteorologically. Whirlwinds of fear, dismay and worry assailed
my mind. There will undoubtedly be future storms. Instead of letting that storm
devastate my mind, I want to speak out this truth to my God, “You stretch out the
starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your home in
the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of
the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your
servants.” (Psalm 104:2b-4, NLT).
Wow! Is there any room for complaining in that? In case
you’re wondering, that’s what praise looks like. For me, it’s not about saying,
“Oh Praise Jesus, we’re late on the rent again.” Or “Hallelujah, it’s rice and
beans for dinner for the foreseeable future.” If that’s the situation we’re
facing, that’s the situation we’re facing and it ain’t exactly gonna be roses.
My task is to remember that God is the Power described above. And hang on for
the ride without being a murmuring cat.
Got any storms raging? What does praising God look like for
you?
wait for it........................
....aaaaah, sun.
