God is Puttin’ the squeeze on! 

By: Carole L. Haines 

Oowee! God is putting the squeeze on me, boy, I can tell you that! But it is a good squeeze, because I’ve been through it many times and His intentions are always to squeeze out the flesh so there is more room for Himself and His transformative power in my life. It all began about a month ago with Bible Gateway’s Visual Verse of the Day:
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.
 (Philippians 2:14-15) 

I have been praying for a deeper walk, more transformation into the likeness of Christ. This was God’s answer to me. He put the finger on my tendency to be critical and whiny. Notice about that it says SO THAT YOU MAY BECOME. That was God’s shout out to me. 
Carole, do you want to become blameless and pure? 
Do you want to be a child of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation? 
Do you want to shine among them like a star in the sky?   

Well, Yeah God! Of course I do!
Well Carole, here’s your marching orders: start becoming aware of the 5 W’s and an H in the complaints department.  

What are you complaining about? 

Why are you grumbling? 

Where does this start in your mind? 

When are you most likely to fall into this pattern? 

Who are you complaining about? 

How is this even helpful?  

All this complaining, whining, arguing, judging is only serving to damage your heart, not purify it..  Then I open up my beloved Devotion today MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers: and here is what he had to say on the matter: 

Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God. 
From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition 

Okay, My Precious king Jesus, I am listening. Thank You for loving me so much that You are wanting to, able to, and victorious in changing my heart. I’ve seen you do it in the past in other areas and I know You can bring me out of this muck and mire into which I have meandered. Life’s been hard, Lord and I ventured off the pathway of Your vision, purpose and focus for myself.  I live to do Your Will and I hear you calling for change in me in this area. I hear You, My King, I yield to You, My Lord. And Holy Spirit, I’m going to need all the Help you can pour through me to remove this stubborn tendency by the root. Amen.