Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
Be careful about what you attract:
Repetitive complaining will attract things for you to complain about.
Repeated gratitude will attract things for you to be thankful about. (Unknown)
This is not a "name it and claim it" statement or theology. It has much more to do with your worldview.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. So then, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light." Matthew 6:22
Whose life are you living?
What is your life about?
Who is your life about?
Who are you living for?
"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God's Son, who loved me and gave himself for me."
It is no longer my life!
Complaining is always about me. Something is not going the way I think it needs to go. Or I am inconvenienced by a circumstance or person. It is placing me on the throne of my life that isn't my life but God's.
If you find yourself complaining, you won't overcome it by looking for someone who has it worse than you. That is comparison thinking, which is how the world thinks and copes. That is being conformed to the patterns of this world.
We overcome through conviction by the Holy Spirit when we complain. It should awaken us to the Father's goodness and lead us to repentance. It awakens us to His life in us.
If praise glorifies God, whom do we glorify when we complain?
Repentance is a transformed mind. God transforms our minds and allows us to think about the things of Him. We now live from a heavenly worldview. That is what Paul is encouraging us to do.
Do an inventory of your thoughts over an hour.
What are you thinking about?
What are you worried about?
In what ways are your thoughts inspiring hope?
How are your thoughts creating ways to bless others?
Lord, what we think about and how we think is important to You. Awaken us to the joy of living in your kingdom in body, soul, and spirit. Amen