If you don’t think God takes murmuring seriously, read this: ‘Don’t murmur against God and his dealings with you as some of them did, for that is why God sent his Angel to destroy them. All these things happened to them as examples – as object lessons to us – to warn us against doing the same things’ (vv. 10-11 TLB). Not only do murmuring and complaining hinder your prayers from being answered, but they also affect your health and the happiness of those around you. So: 1) Pray before entering your day. Receive God’s help first thing. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed with problems. Ask Him to permeate you with His peace and joy and enable you to respond His way during the entire day. ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV). 2) Get a good night’s sleep. Many metabolic and other restorative processes occur during the various stages of sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep for your system to be renewed, you will probably feel annoyed by the smallest things. David said, ‘I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me’ (Psalm 3:5 NKJV). 3) Talk to your doctor. When the people and situations around you constantly feel like ‘a pain in the neck’ to you, it may be due to a literal pain in your neck or some other part of your body. Chemical imbalances can cause clinical depression, but the right medical help can restore your perspective. And watch your diet. Too much caffeine and sugar will adversely alter your mood and cause a spike in your insulin. Bottom line: the physical affects the mental, emotional, and spiritual!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.