28 Days of Gratitude: Day 27
Scripture of the Day: “So once more the people complained against Moses. ‘Give us water to drink!’ they demanded.” (Exodus 17:2 NLT)
Israel was wandering in the wilderness, and they were thirsty, so they complained to Moses and demanded that he provide water. In response to their demand, in verse 2, Moses said, “Quiet!” Then he asked them a question: “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”
Scripture said in verse 3 that the Israelites were “tormented by thirst,” so they kept on arguing with Moses. And yet, God, who is merciful, worked a miracle in response to the people’s complaining. He told Moses to strike a rock, and water came gushing out.
Before God did the miraculous, the people were so upset over what they lacked that they complained and quarreled. They were miserable and demanded change. Have you ever felt “tormented by thirst?” Maybe it wasn’t thirst for water but thirst for something else. After all, the general definition of thirst is simply to have a strong desire for something. So then, the question is, when you strongly desire something that you lack, how do you handle it?
It’s important to reflect on that, because the time comes in each of our lives when we yearn for something that we don’t possess. How do you behave in times when you don’t get what you feel like you desperately need? Does your temper flare?
FLARE-UP
My oldest son Kedar recently discovered that he is allergic to almonds after going out shopping with his dad. In the store, he was offered a sample of a treat with almonds in it. Kedar ate it, and by the time he got home, his eyes had swollen up, and they were itching. Thankfully, the reaction wasn’t very serious, but he did have a noticeable flare-up.
When I noticed the issue, I went and grabbed the Benadryl, because I knew an allergy pill, which is an antihistamine, would calm the itch, and the symptoms would subside.
If we eat something that irritates us, it triggers our body’s histamine response. Basically, histamine is a chemical made by our immune system, and it helps our body get rid of what bothers us. When an allergy trigger enters the body, our immune system perceives it as a threat. So our histamine response will make us sneeze, tear up, and do whatever is necessary to get rid of that perceived threat.
On our faith journey, sometimes things bother us, and they trigger an emotional flare-up. We cry, complain, fuss, and get agitated, because we don’t like the circumstances. That’s why we need the word of God. It’s like a histamine blocker that helps calm that negative emotional response that we don’t know how to control. The Word quiets the storm raging within us. It helps us remain positive, faith-filled, and grateful in the midst of the wilderness.
THANK GOD FOR MAKING A WAY
Earlier, I mentioned that God worked a miracle for Israel despite their negative attitudes and complaining. They could have saved themselves a whole lot of stress and anxiety if they had trusted God and maintained an attitude of gratitude! He wasn’t going to let them die of thirst.
The next time you feel tormented by thirst, and you don’t know how God will make a way, remember Israel’s example. Just as God supplied their needs, He will supply yours. So, why not respond with an advance praise, and thank God for making a way? Even though you may not see it, you know you can trust Him to be faithful.
THE ROCK
When Israel was in the wilderness, Moses struck the rock, and water came out. In our wilderness, we have something superior. We possess Christ the Rock who has given us Living Water—the kind of water that ensures that we will never thirst again (John 4:13-15).
Therefore, whenever we feel tormented by natural thirst for natural things, we can go to Jesus, and He will satisfy our spiritual thirst with spiritual things. He will quench the thirsting of our soul. That means, He gives us peace when chaos is all around us. He gives us contentment in times of lack. He gives us joy in sorrow. He gives us hope in hopeless situations. Living Water keeps us satisfied in every circumstance.
Christ, the rock of our salvation, empowers us to praise in the wilderness, and trust Him to make a way…just as He always does.
JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT
In your journal today, write down:
A time when you didn’t have what you needed, and God provided for you.
A time when God blessed you despite your attitude and lack of faith.
A time when God did not give you what you thought you needed at that moment, but things still worked out for you.
One thing God has done for you today.
One reason you are grateful for Christ the Rock.
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for being a provider and taking care of me. Even when I don’t get things right, and I don’t pass the test, You still love me and are merciful. In times of need, please remind me that, as long as I have You, I already have everything I need—and having You is all the reason I’ll ever need to be grateful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
What Is the 28 Days of Gratitude Series Based On?
This gratitude series is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT, which says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
In my time spent with the Lord, He dealt with me about how we have a tendency to focus on our issues, problems, challenges, and difficulties, but we are not necessarily intentional about focusing on His goodness. Failing to meditate on His works forces us into a cycle of complaining and blinds us to the amazing ways He reveals Himself on a daily basis. In all circumstances, let us be more grateful.
What do I need to participate?
To participate in this series, you will need a notebook and a journal, because it requires writing some things down. In whatever journal you choose—and it doesn’t need to be anything fancy—daily, you will write down the Scripture of the day.
The featured verse will highlight a complaint from the Bible to help you see that, throughout history, others have struggled just as you do. Yet, God desires that we be grateful. In your journal, I would ask that you write the verse you see featured on the Daily Cup blog each morning, then jot down 5 things for which you are grateful.
5 is the number of grace, so you will be focusing on the grace of God and how His mercy has been evident in your life, even during rough times. At the end of each post, 5 suggested thing to write about are listed.
