7 Ways to Shift from Murmuring to Speaking Faith
Do you ever find yourself in the grip of negative thinking that leads to negative speaking? Sometimes without recognizing it, we can be in a cycle of speech that falls in the category of murmuring and complaining.
Maybe your mind is consumed by an overwhelming sense of frustration, or worry, or fear. Or maybe you don’t even realize it until after-the-fact when someone suggests that maybe you were complaining rather than speaking faith into a situation.
We’ve all been there - struggling to stay positive instead of allowing ourselves to fall victim to our emotions or releasing a list of grievances instead of a flowing from our trust and belief in God.
Thankfully, God gives us all the tools we need so that His instructions can be lived out within our circumstances.
What Does the Word Murmur Mean in the Bible?
The word murmur is not a common term used in everyday language, but it holds significant meaning in the Bible.
When viewed from a biblical perspective, the word murmur is used to describe a person’s discontent and lack of trust in God's provision. In the New Testament, the term is associated with grumbling and murmuring against leaders.
Overall, the word murmur in the Bible represents a lack of faith and trust in God's plan and providence.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites constantly murmured and complained during their journey in the wilderness. It may be easy for us to look at their biblical account and wonder why they didn’t get it, but we can easily fall into the same trap.
When they prayed for deliverance, God delivered them from Egypt. When they prayed for basic needs, God provided food and shelter. No matter what the Israelites faced, God was always there. Think about your life? Has He done the same for you?
As we think about the Israelites, it reminds us to have faith and be content in every space in life, rather than complain and criticize.
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What is a Murmuring Spirit?
A murmuring spirit is one that carries a negative, complaining attitude. It's the kind of spirit that always finds something to gripe about, no matter how much good is going on.
This kind of spirit has lenses to see the negative or what’s missing but rarely the good and what’s going right.
Have you ever been around someone that has a murmuring spirit? Their behavior can be draining for those around them, because it can bring down morale and hinder progress.
A murmuring spirit can be especially harmful in relational and team environments, because it fights against unity and cohesion. The Holy Spirit is a unifier and He is able to aid different kinds of people to overcome their differences and work together. A murmuring spirit attempts to combat the work of the Holy Spirit.
For this reason, it's important to recognize this behavior in oneself and strive to cultivate a more positive, uplifting attitude. By doing so, we can foster a more productive and harmonious atmosphere.
Biblical Examples of Murmuring
In the Bible, there are numerous examples of murmuring and complaining.
One of these examples is the Israelites’ murmuring against Moses and Aaron. In Numbers 14, the Israelites were upset after the reports from the spies that there were giants in the land of Canaan. They felt that Moses and Aaron had led them into a worse place than Egypt, so they complained against them.
In Luke 5:30 (NLT) it states “But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Though they were talking to the disciples, their complaint was really against Jesus and His ministry on earth.
Acts 6:1 shows another example. This time the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians murmured against the Hebrew-speaking Jewish Christians because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Although the Apostles came to a quick resolution by assigning deacons, the murmuring and complaining was distracting them from their assignment which was to preach the Word of God.
Sometimes we don’t consider the magnitude of our murmuring, but we must remember that it can affect more than just us.
How Does God Respond to Murmuring and Complaining?
It's clear that murmuring is not a behavior that is pleasing to God, and it's important to take steps to check ourselves when we feel the urge to complain or grumble.
The Bible tells us that God is always listening to our prayers, complaints, and grievances. However, it also cautions us that murmuring and complaining is unacceptable behavior in the eyes of God.
The book of Exodus reminds us of the Israelites who were journeying through the wilderness and started to murmur and complain about the lack of food and water. As a result, God sent poisonous snakes as a punishment.
Similarly, we need to be careful about our words and actions as they have consequences. Rather than murmuring and complaining, we can look to God for strength and guidance during difficult times.
As the Bible says, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV)
Ways to Combat Murmuring and Complaining
We've all been there: caught in a cycle of murmuring and complaining that seems impossible to break.
Whether it's about work, relationships, or the state of the world, negativity can quickly take hold if we let it. But there are ways to combat this toxic habit and cultivate a more positive outlook.
From practicing gratitude to surrounding yourself with positive influences, these seven strategies can help you break free from the negativity and find more joy in your day-to-day life.
Identify Your Negative Thought Patterns and Reframe Them
Our minds can sometimes get stuck in a cycle of negative thinking that can hinder our personal growth and happiness.
It is important to identify these negative thought patterns and work towards reframing them into more positive and productive thoughts. This can take some effort and practice, but it is worth it in the long run.
By recognizing when we are being overly critical or pessimistic, we can begin to re-write the narrative in our minds and cultivate a more optimistic outlook on life.
Refocus on the Good in Every Situation
Do you believe there is good in everything? If you look only at what you’re going through or how you feel, you may miss it.
God wastes nothing. Each experience we go through in life is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Choose Faith Filled Words to Speak Over Your Life
Our mouths speak what’s in our heart. It should be an indicator of where our faith and mindset are presently.
When we spend a lot of time murmuring, we then have to spend time retraining our speech.
A good way to do this is to begin to journal your thoughts. Each week look back and see if you thought process is changing.
If not, consider why. Are you spending adequate time in the Word, prayer, and worship?
Writing down positive affirmations or scriptures can also help to keep a check on your thought life and encourage you throughout challenging days.
Speak Out Declarations and God’s Promises from Scripture
The Bible is the best language we can speak, because it’s inspired by God Himself and is profitable in all ways.
Take some time and find scriptures that combat how you currently see things. Meditate and recite the scriptures aloud.
Acknowledge God as the Source of Your Hope and Strength
Do you believe God’s in control? If so, speak like He is.
Acknowledge Him in that murmuring space and seek His help to shift from complaining to faith.
Your language should reflect the hope and trust you have in God.
Pray for Others Rather Than Talking About Your Own Problems
Refocusing your attention is a great way to use your words in a better way.
There is always someone or a situation we can bring before the Lord.
In prayer, we are in the presence of God. It’s a great space to exchange our concerns for His assurance.
Choose Gratitude and Thankfulness Even When Times are Hard
We can choose to be grateful and thankful. It does mean looking on the bright side of things.
In hard times it may take more effort, but it’s still possible.
Living by God's truth is not always easy or popular, but it is the only way to have true freedom and peace.
To finish, know that you have the power to choose life and death through your words.
Choose to practice speaking faith in every area of your life and be sure to surrender your thoughts of murmuring and complaining to God.
There is power in having a heart connected with prayer and surrendering all to the Lord.
You will see God’s kingdom being revealed in remarkable ways when you choose to speak and think positively and aligned with the Word each day.
We are called to trust God no matter what comes our way, so let’s make a strong attempt to focus on speaking from a place of faith instead of letting complaints overtake us.
Speaking forth in faith will always guide us down a more rewarding path!
