More on  my failure story

As time went on, I realized that I was angry at myself for not getting on the plane earlier. I was angry at the stewardess for taking my bag. I was angry at God for allowing this.

But, without confession and repentance, I was defenseless. I was down and Satan just kept shooting me with one fiery arrow after another: fear, selfishness, self-pity and more complaining.

It was a painful, joyless time before the Spirit gave insight through my journaling as I lifted my soul to Him. He helped me see where I had committed my initial, tactical sin of choosing to grumble instead of praising. Then I could confess, surrender and be healed.

After that I could easily raise the shield of faith quenching all the incoming fiery darts of the evil one, and joy could flow again. I had to choose to live the truth that knowing Jesus is enough for joy, period!

How easily I fall, how significant a seemingly small decision can be, how dangerous is the innocuous sin of complaining. It rises from unbelief and rebellion against what God has brought. It comes from pride, from fear, from selfishness, from listening to self rather than the Spirit.

Lord help me to remember this significant sin, this crippling failure so the next time I’m tempted to complain, I can follow your lead and instantly repent, raising the shield of faith with the sacrifice of thanksgiving! Psalm 50:23

Picture: getting up the shield of faith from hopefaithprayer.com