Hungry for God; Starving for Time

Sunday

Sometimes I Wake Up Grumpy



Facetime: God, sometimes I'm not very pleasant to be around. How can I change my mood?

 

Ever heard the saying, Sometimes I wake up grumpy, and sometimes I let him sleep?

Sometimes I’m the one who wakes up grumpy. 

Perhaps I didn’t get enough sleep the night before, or a child awakened me several times. Maybe the eggplant parmagiano I ate for supper did summersaults in my stomach, disturbing my rest and souring my disposition. Or I might be dwelling on a hurt or offense from the day before, allowing it to fester in my subconscious all night. Maybe there’s no good reason for why I wake up out of sorts and cranky.

What’s a woman to do when she wakes up grumpy? Here are a few suggestions:

1.  Choose to be “swift to hear and slow to speak” (James 1:19). When I’m grouchy, I tend to give my mouth cart blanche to say whatever comes to mind. Usually it's complaining or critical. It’s also typically directed at those closest to me. As soon as I recognize the stirrings of grumpiness, I ask the Lord to “set a watch about my mouth” (Psalm 141:3).

2.  Put on praise music
Although praise music seldom changes my circumstances, it helps direct my thoughts to God and his goodness. Once I get my eyes off myself and focused on God, my mood often does a 180. It’s hard to be grumpy when I’m singing about God’s love for me.

3.  Take every thought captive. 
Second Corinthians 10:5 encourages us to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” When I capture my thoughts and compare them to the truth of God’s Word, I often find they are false, deceptive, or destructive. 

Evaluating them in light of God’s Word helps me discard them and exchange their damaging power for God’s promises. If my thoughts tell me There’s no use praying about that situation; it’s hopeless, taking this thought captive and comparing it to the truth of scripture tells me, “Nothing is too hard for God” (Jeremiah 32:17). I correct my wrong thinking and fill myself with hope instead of despair.

4.  Adopt an attitude of gratitude. 
On particularly bad days, or when circumstances seem overwhelming, I may feel that my thankful list is very short. Sometimes I’m so discouraged it seems there’s nothing good happening in my life. It’s during these times that my thankful list begins with intangibles. Lord, thank you for my salvation. Thank you for the Comforter, your Holy Spirit, who lives inside me. Thank you that Romans 8:28 is not a typo, but that you will work all things out for good in my life. . ." 

When I intentionally thank God for the good gifts in my life, it’s almost impossible to maintain my sour disposition. Often I speak my thanksgiving aloud. Hearing the long list of good gifts God has given me is often just what I need to restore my joy. 

5.  Remember that this world is not all there is. 
Some days the world is so yucky that it’s hard to see past it. The apostle Paul, imprisoned, lonely, and spent for the gospel, penned these words: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Our time on earth is a vapor compared to the future that awaits us in eternity.

photo credit
When you wake up grumpy, what do you do to turn things around? I’d love for you to leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you’re reading by email, click here to leave a comment.







If you enjoyed this post, you might like "Have You Ever Been Hugged by God?" 


This devotion is an excerpt from Lori’s new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women.

You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

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• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

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40 comments:

  1. Lori, thank you for these biblical and practical ideas! There were very timely in my life, and no doubt, in the lives of other readers. Thanking God today for technology that allows sisters in the Lord to encourage one another across the miles, and for your willingness to be used of God in this way! God bless you BIG, Lori!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim,

      It wasn't by accident that I scheduled this post on a Monday -- often the most challenging day of our week. So glad to have been an encouragement, as your words were to me. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Thanks! I am so glad I've read this post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I try do all of these, Lori. You've given us great words of advice and doing these always makes a difference in my day. The only one that I'd add (and I think it's implied in several of your points) to refresh myself daily with reading God's word and spending undivided time with Him in prayer. I don't know how people get through a day, much less a moment, without Him filling them up. Great thoughts here, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Beth -- taking time with the Lord first thing is critical. As a wise friend once told me, "I skipped my quiet time today, and though I doubt it would have changed my circumstances, I know I would have handled them a lot better." True words for us all. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. You so eliquently spoke of practices that work. I try to do those things too, however, when I find that I have not made any ground behaviorally, I confess my issue to my girls and ask them to pray for me. Typically, once I speak about my attitude, I am freed from the grip that it seemingly had on me.

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  6. Good stuff, as usual, Lori.
    And I do sometimes wake up grumpy or get that way during the day.
    And I've seen some of the things you mentioned really turn my day around. So much depends on my willingness to apply them! Thanks for these reminders.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yep me too! Great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lori, these are all great ways to beat the grumpies! (Especially, for me, the swift to hear and slow to speak!) Each of these has helped change my attitude when I, like Gail, am willing to apply them! Thanks!
    Blessings to you ~ Mary

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    1. I also wanted to tell you that I love the pics!! :)

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  13. How many mornings do I wake up grumpy?! A lot lately it seems. Thanks for the tips. Turning on praise music is a great one because singing always lifts my mood!

    Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keri, I'm such a lousy singer than when I sing along I have to laugh at myself, which, of course, helps with the grumpies :) thanks for stopping by

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  16. Anonymous12:20 PM

    I wake up grumpy more often than I would like to admit to. I think you've got some great suggestions here for dealing with it. I also, once I notice my mood, try to take a few minutes for a special prayer asking for help controlling my tongue.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just spent three months writing down a reason each day of why I love my husband - it was really difficult to get frustrated or feel entitled to something when I forced myself to be thankful for him every day. The praise music is a really good idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mikah -- what an awesome idea, and what a relationships booster! My husband and I are leading a marriage Bible study. I'll have to share this tip with our couples. THanks for stopping by and sharing :)

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  18. I just love the picture of the grumpy little girl!! I have been looking forward to reading this post just because this picture captured my attention. This was such a wonderful post.

    Thanks so much for sharing this over at WholeHearted Home. It really blessed me!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judith -- I chose her because she reminded me so much of how I feel on the inside some days (and I probably have the same expression on my outside :) Thanks for stopping by this fine day!

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  19. Great to be reminded that we don't have to surrender to the grumps but can turn our days around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, you said it, Alison -- we have a choice to make. Sometimes, I confess, I'd rather just stew in my grumpiness! Thanks for visiting :)

      Delete
  20. I agree with all your points. #1 really hit me as so true. When the grumpiness comes, sometimes we just need to "zip it." I wrote a post somewhat similar to this, dealing with pity parties if you care to check it out. :)
    http://ahumblebumble.blogspot.com/2012/08/3-steps-to-avoiding-pity-parties.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Becca,
      I read a quote recently that said, "We seldom regret the unkind words we didn't say, but often regret those we did." Oh my, how true is that!

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  21. Great post, Lori--both practical and inspiring! Thanks for these great reminders and for visiting me at Doorkeeper. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lori...great ways to refocus our attitudes when they are sour. Glad to have you share them at WJIM this week. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I loved your words of encouragment. Sometimes, it's so easy to get self absorbed in our negative attitudes and let it ruin our day. You made some great points to direct our attention away from that! Thank you!

    Blessings~
    Shari

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous2:40 AM

    It's nice to know that I am not the only one who wakes up grumpy - other things I try to do besides what you have mentioned, is change things up by letting my kids do the unthinkable watch a video first thing then I have a bit extra time for a quiet hot shower with worship on the back ground , if that fails too and I am counting my blessings aloud I call my husband or a friend and ask them to pray for me that usually does the trick there is something so beautiful about reaching out and being transparent. And of course I try to rembered to ask if my friend needs prayer and just praying for my friend or husband does wonders for me. Today was a grumpy morning and I loved your advice.

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