Are You Murmuring? Or Magnifying?

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure . . . (Philippians 2:14)

From the time you get up until the time you return to your bed, you are engaging in conversation with yourself. Have you ever paused to listen to the kind of conversations you are having? It will either be marked by murmuring against God or magnifying His blessings. The choice is always yours. You have the power deep within you to grow better or bitter, regardless of the circumstances you are facing.

Do you live a life of complaining or blessing? To be sure, it is a mixture for all of us, but what is your primary conversation with yourself? It is all too easy for us to start moaning and groaning when life is not going according to our plan. Like the children of Israel in the wilderness, we whine, grumble, and complain against God when things are not going our way. You see, the sin nature that lies within causes us to make life all about ourselves. When we shrink the size of our lives down to the size of our wants, desires, goals, and feelings — and when our expectations are not met — our internal talk frequently makes it clear that we are not happy with God.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Bible does not minimize the seriousness of murmuring against God. In Deuteronomy, Moses recounted how God’s people continuously murmured against God after having been released from 400 years of bondage in Egypt. What ruled their heart – murmuring – shaped their lives. They continued rebelling against God all the way into the Promised Land.

What is the confession of your life today? Murmuring or magnifying? When we forget God’s goodness and grace in our lives, we murmur. But when we remember just how good and gracious God has been, is now, and will be forevermore, we will magnify His glory in all we think, do, and say.

Christian, you can be assured that God’s plan for your life is always better than yours! The more you magnify God’s blessings in your life, the less you will murmur against Him. Let that truth set you free to replace murmuring with magnifying on those inevitable occasions life is not working out the way you want it to.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!