"Zip It"

A month or so ago I was in the bathroom at the movie theater when two ladies walked in complaining. These ladies were so consumed, they decided to continue their complaining session through the stall walls. I laughed to myself about the conversation I overheard because they had found something wrong with everything. However, while listening to them I began to think about how it sounds to others when we complain a lot and then I started remembering numerous complaints that had come out of my mouth that very day.

It’s hard not to complain. We are used to it in daily conversation. The weather is not matching up with our plans, someone isn’t driving the way we think they should, our food is not the way we ordered it at a restaurant, we are tired, and the list goes on.

Do you have someone that comes to mind who complains a lot and seems to always be negative? How about someone who seems to always be encouraging and tries to see the positive side of things? Whose company is more enjoyable?

Paul wrote against complaining in Philippians.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings… (Phil 2:14)

murmur: to complain in low mumbling tones; grumble

dispute: to argue against; call in question

Those words pretty much cover any type of complaining we could produce. Paul even urges against those “under your breath comments” or murmurs.

I’m not sure anyone is capable of snapping their fingers and never complaining again, but we are capable of responding to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Ask God to point out to you when you need to turn your attitude around. He will send a little voice (called the Holy Spirit) to tell you to “zip it.”

Satan likes to play with a negative attitude; I’m learning that from experience. Don’t let yourself sink into a hole of negativity. If you choose to stop complaining and say something positive, each time you do, you are glorifying God more and more.

Kristen

Teen Leader