The space between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be CRAZY. I can go from grateful to grouchy in neck-speed time. I am definitely a work in progress, and this is one aspect of my personality that Jesus and I are working on for sure.

This morning I read Psalm 142 and settled in on the first two verses:

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before Him my complaint; before Him, I tell my trouble.

If I want to reverse my tendency to go from grateful to grouchy and instead go from grouchy to grateful, here are some things that I need to do:

1. I need to practice using my voice when I pray. In other words, I need to pray aloud. Typically, when I voice aloud what’s causing my panties to get in a wad, frequently, I realize how much I am overreacting. I can get a grip on myself a lot quicker when I speak my prayers aloud.

2. I need to take my complaints straight to God before I flap my jaws to anyone else. I believe that when we do this, God will show us several things. One, He will reveal if our complaint is just. If it is, and if we ask, He will be faithful to give us discernment, wisdom, and knowledge to handle it. Also, God will reveal to us if our complaint is coming from a place of irritability, pride, and/or frustration. If that is the case, He will be faithful to help us change our perspective and our attitude – if we ask Him to.

A great question to ask ourselves is this:

Would my complaint still be valid if I were practicing gratitude?

Here’s what I know: having a complaint doesn’t have to result in complaining. #Lordhelpme

I’m grateful that God always hears my voice when I call to Him, even when I come to Him with a complaint. I’m also incredibly thankful that He is merciful and has the power to transform my grouchy mood into a grateful one. What about you?

#Icanchoosenottobegrouchy
#therespowerinbeinggrateful
#lotstobegratefulfor
#HappyMondayyall