Hold Your Tongue

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Philippians
2:14-15

After Moses had delivered God's people out of Egypt, out of bondage, out of slavery, out of captivity, God's word says in Exodus 14 that the children of Israel .... complained.

"And when Pharoah drew nigh, and the children of Israel lifted up their eyes,
and , behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and
the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because
there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?
wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not
this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may
serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than
that we should die in the wilderness." Exodus 14:10-12

I could make many excuses for the Israelites. They were afraid. They couldn't see the 'end result'. Compared to what they were facing at that moment, being a slave in Egypt seemed safer. I would probably complain too.

That's just it. I do complain.

More often than I thought I did.

I teach a high school girls Sunday School class. Now, high school girls can be the ultimate complainers. You know, simple stuff, like hair, make-up, clothes. But, then the complaints start carrying venom ... it turns to judging others. I realized I am the 'ring-leader'.

My need to control every situation in my life has caused me to have a critical spirit. A critical spirit can ruin my communion with God. I find it more and more difficult to pray. I get aggravated and I know that I am the one making myself that way ... not all the people around me that I'm complaining about.

The problem with this way of thinking is I am suppose to be a living stone. A person that is representing and revealing the empty tomb - that Christ died to save me. Just as it says in the verse above, I am suppose to be a light to a crooked and perverse nation. I am to live a life that not only reflects Him, but shows ALL of Him and none of me. When I complain and judge, I'm placing myself on a pedestal for all the world to see. I'm building myself up with pride and trying to tell the world I'm better. I hate that! That kind of attitude makes me sick, actually.

We made commitments yesterday in Sunday School. We each took a bracelet (actually a pony-tail holder) and put them on our right wrists. It's a reminder not to complain or judge. When we find ourselves doing so, we are to switch them to the other wrist. If we do so again, we switch it again.

I got all kinds of questions from the girls like ... what if we just think 'the compaint' but don't voice it? How many times a day can I switch it? What if mine breaks from all the 'switching'? :)

The 'switching' could be endless. I told them not to switch it if they didn't speak the complaint. If we can master that first, we've made huge strides in our walk with the Lord - or at least I have. The girls were excited about it which surprised me. I was fighting it all the way and here they were glad to participate.

When I went back to church last night, a few of the girls passed me and couldn't wait to tell me how they did during the day. Some said they were afraid their bracelets would catch fire they had switched them so much. Some said it was a conviction from the start and they had held their tongues more than they thought they would.

Me? ... I had a huge headache which shut my mouth most of the day, so there was little switching :)

How about you? Want to participate? Grab you a pony-tail holder and put it on your wrist.

I'm updating with the girls in 2 weeks to talk about how the Holy Spirit worked in each of our lives. I would love it if you would join in.