Being Real...or Complaining?

   Part of my real girl struggles are when I want to share my heart here but don't know how to do so without the dreaded sound of complaining. How do you share the truth; the messed up and the broken, while not falling into the pit of me, me, me?

    This season – in fact many, many seasons of my life – have been filled with broken places and heartache and trial. And while I want to be honest in saying I don't always have it together, I certainly don't want to turn this into a place where I'm seeking sympathy from others about my plight.

    So I ask myself, what is my purpose? What is my focus? Is it to receive pity and my own comfort from my friends and sister's in Christ? Or, is it to share the testimony the Lord has given me – not because of, but in spite of, my trials?

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Take care of that complaining spirit:

#1. A thankful heart tuned to praising the Lord is the foundation to dispelling a complaining spirit. It stands to reason that the more you think about the good, the less you'll think about the bad, and the less you'll have to complain about in the first place.

#2. Stop comparing yourself - your life - with another's. Period. It steals your joy and feeds a complaining spirit.

#3. Spend time in prayer, talk to the Lord, and allow Him to give you peace despite the outlook of your life at this time. The more time you spend with Him will help you to trust Him more and give you even more to be thankful about!

#4. Before you share your heart/testimony with others, pray and ask Him to help you share only that which will build others up and bring Him glory; not yourself.