Merriam-Webster defines murmuring as saying something in a quiet and soft voice; to complain or grumble. Murmuring about the things of God and Christ is an expression of our inner feelings. Complaining is the outward expression of our inner feelings with our words and deeds.
There is a good bit of murmuring going on now. Soft, continuous words of discouragement. Words that send our minds to places that make us question. We question God’s motives and people. Murmuring can occur on a very personal level and nationally. Undermining with discouraging words and thoughts. Murmuring will eventually cause us to venture from what we believe and know to be true and believe what satan wants us to believe. It is a special tool of our enemy. He used that tool in the garden.
Everything that we suffer in this world, started right there…In the garden. To paraphrase, the plan was to start a murmuring situation with Eve and Adam, who was there with her. Satan came into the garden in the form of a beguiling serpent. He must have looked friendly enough for Eve to stand there and converse with him. Snakes, serpents or spiders make me run! He evidently was not a frightening sight. He began his murmuring mission.
“So…Did God REALLY say you must not eat the fruit from ANY of the trees in the garden?” Up until that moment Adam and Eve were happy. They had everything two people could desire. A beautiful place to live. All the food they could hold. They had no fear, no sickness, no clothes. They were content at all that God had provided and done for them. Until…That voice. That soft conversation, to get her to question her God. He had her so confused that she said they would surely die if they ate or touched the fruit from that tree. God said nothing to Adam about touching it. The voice of murmuring has Eve adding to God’s instructions about that tree.
Isn’t that what listening to the voice of murmuring and complaining does? We stop listening to the voice of God. We stop thinking on His promises. We forget all He has provided and brought us through. We start listening to the voice of another world. A voice that desires to pull us away from following God. The same tactic that got Adam and Eve thrown out of paradise.
~Thought For Today~
Murmuring is a form of rebellion. When we start to feel that God has brought something to us that we cannot accept, we are rebelling. We question God’s motives. Our faith starts to slip. We start to dwell on the words of that other world voice and start to slide. A free fall from God. Our serpent has snuck into our garden and started murmuring that the business of God is insufficient. That He isn’t taking care of us like we deserve. We begin to doubt. We start feeling we are missing out. God just doesn’t want us to be happy.
Haven’t we all been there? I certainly have. When we find ourselves outside what we consider to be our comfort zone, it becomes easier to push the voice of the Holy Spirit, who speaks what is pure and holy to us, to the back. We begin to listen to continuous murmuring and complaining, until that voice, becomes our new truth. Your God is causing you pain! So, does your God really care about you? The questions that murmuring raises are endless.
Trouble has never come to me conveniently. Anytime it comes is a bad time. It is not a respecter of persons. It falls on the just and the unjust alike. So we have to fight the battle. If God is truly the center of our life we won’t murmur and complain about our circumstance. We will stand in the storm and look for the things that we can hold to and rejoice in. Even as the waves ravage our lives. Even when our world turns upside down. Even when people have disappointed us, forsaken us, turned against us. Even when sickness comes. And yes, even when death touches our lives. Even when all seems lost, we will rejoice in the God of our salvation.
Even then, we will stay focused on Jesus. We will keep our eyes, hearts, and minds on Him. We will focus on what He says and not what the enemy has to say about our circumstances.
~ Scriptures For Today~
Jude 1:16
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. (KJV)
Philippians 2:14
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (KJV)
Habakkuk 3:17-
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We yearn to hear Your voice only. Your word says you rejoice over us with singing. You will quiet us with Your love. Our warrior bringing victory. We pray for a spirit of encouragement. That our eyes stay on You. Even on the cloudy, threatening and stormy days. Especially, on those days. We pray for those with a murmuring spirit. That Your voice of love will drown out their complaints and free them. Forgive us of our sins. All things that displease You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.