Momentum: How To Ignite Your FaithSample

GETTING PAST YOUR PAST

St. Benedict, a fifth-century Christian, took complaining and bitterness seriously. The monastery rules forbid any grumbling. The most wonderful line in The Rule of St. Benedict describes what happens if you complain in the monastery. “Let Father Abbot send two stout monks to explain the matter to him.” You complain and whine in the monastery and you get a visit from a couple of monk bouncers named Guido and Vinnie.

We all know people who have allowed the poison of bitterness to run and ruin their lives. We see it easily: bitterness reveals itself through negativity, criticism, anger, and dysfunction.

One of the ways to overcome bitterness is to practice gratitude. Gratitude drains the poison out of bitterness.

Joseph was the poster child for practicing gratitude in spite of life’s hurts. He was almost killed by his brothers. He was sold into slavery. He was falsely accused of rape. He was forgotten in prison. If anybody had good reason to be resentful, it was Joseph.

By God’s providence and plan, he eventually got out of prison and was appointed as prime minister of Egypt. Joseph also got married and had two sons. He named them Manasseh and Ephraim. Those names tell a powerful story of gratitude. The word Manasseh means ‘God has caused me to forget’. Joseph was saying, “I’ve put the past behind me. I’m choosing to move on and look ahead. I’m letting my brothers off the hook for what they did to me. God has allowed me to forget.”

And then notice the name of his other son. Ephraim means ‘fruitful’. Someone has said Manasseh’s name was Amnesia and Ephraim’s was Ambrosia. God had allowed him to forget the past and see blessing and fruitfulness in the present. Just in the naming of his two sons, we see the gratitude and spiritual maturity of Joseph. Joseph trusted in God’s goodness and sovereignty.

He knew that even in his bad circumstances, God had a good plan. Even when others intended evil and hurt, Joseph knew that God was bigger and could take what was intended for evil and make it good. Joseph actively believed that God’s sovereign control over all circumstances was meant for his good.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Is there an area of your life where you need to turn grumbling into gratitude?

Today’s Takeaway
Gratitude drains the poison out of bitterness.