(1)What do you tend to complain about the most? Why?

(2)Negative thinking rewires our brain to do more complaining. Where have you seen your complaining lead to more complaining? Where have you seen that in others?

(3)Read Exodus 14:10-12 and Exodus 16:1-8. The Israelities had just been freed from 400 years of slavery. These are the first of many along their journey to the Promised land of complaining and group complaining. In the message we said that complaining destroys your joy and dishonors God. How do you see that in these passages?

(4)“If you can change your circumstances, change them”. When you look at the things you complain about, is there any circumstance you can actually change? If there is, what step can you take to make a change rather than live in a constant state of complaint?

(5)“If you can’t change your circumstances, change your perspective.” Read Philippians 1:12-14. Paul had been put in prison and had a “right” to complain. Instead, he chose to change his perspective. How did he do this? What was his perspective?

(6)When we take ourselves out of the center of the story and put God in His rightful place at the center of the story it can help us change our perspective. Take a situation that you are prone to complain about. Try switching who’s at the center of the story. How could that change your perspective?

(7)Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. This verse calls for an attitude adjustment. An attitude of gratitude. This week try to foster an attitude of gratitude by writing down a Gratitude list this week. Make this week a Complaining-free week. This week, do a fast from social media. It will help you be more grateful and less likely to complain.

God, help me this week to have an attitude of gratitude. I don’t want to destroy my joy or dishonor you with my complaining. Help me to evaluate my circumstances and where I can change them, change them and when I can’t change my circumstances help me to change my perspective and look to see how you may still be at work and how you are the center of the story. Thank you for your many blessings. Help me this week to live with gratitude and joy. Amen.