“The No Complaining Rule.” That was the book by Jon Gordon I referenced in Friday’s post and said I would post his list of 5 Things to Do instead of Complain. I have also added some Scripture to fortify it from a “spiritual” standpoint. So here they are:
1. Practice Gratitude. Counting our blessings instead of our misery changes our perspective. We are confronted each day with positives and negatives. Practicing gratitude takes our eyes of ourselves. Phil. 4:4,8-9 tells us to “rejoice always” and then the latter two verses tell us to think on the right things.
2. Praise Others. We ought to be thinking how we can thank and praise others for acts of kindness. The Bible tells us to “encourage one another” and Hebrews 10:24 tells us to “think of ways to motivated one another to acts of love and good works.”
3. Focus on Success. A few weeks ago my perspective got twisted a little and I was a grumbling, bumbling mess one morning. It was actually the morning I was gong to implement including this in my sermon. It took me a few moments to reflect on what God has been doing here at the church and in people’s lives I love to realize that I had much to be thankful for. Numbers are not important, although some use them as a gauge (ours have been exceptional). I began to focus on how God has blessed me and I found myself wallowing in praise instead of misery. Pr. 4:25-27 are great verses to keep us on the right path.
4. Let Go. Focus on things you have the power to change. Focus on things you have control over, not those you don’t. For example, can you control the weather? Can you snap a finger and the weather go from 10 to 90? My guess is No. 🙂 Ps. 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots; some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Pr. 21:31 also reinforces that thought.
5. Pray and Read Scripture. Jon says Pray and Meditate but I’m leery of the connotation of that so I choose to replace meditate with Read Scripture. Great Scriptures to read are Psalm 57 & 58 and Proverbs 27. They are too long to print here.
I finished by challenging the folks who were there or watched online to do a “No Complaining Day” tomorrow. Some jokingly said they were going to get it all out of their system today. 🙂 One late elementary school girl was a visitor and I know her parents (as does Tami). Tami texted the mom about it and she said her daughter blew it as soon as she got in the car to leave (her dad picked her up). She quipped back, “It doesn’t start until tomorrow!” Too funny. Join me in a No Complaining Day. Invite others to join you.
Some mornings I could blow this challenge before sliding out of bed. Thankfully, this was not one of these mornings. If I allow myself to be completely, not half heartily, be guided by the Holy Spirit. If I allow Jesus to be my focus. The points you share will come naturally and I won’t have anything to complain about. A good goal for today and every day.
I think most of us would say the same thing Ryan. 🙂 Complaining takes a back seat to being fully engaged with the Holy Spirit guiding us.
The reaction of that young lady is too funny, Bill! I love your idea about taking an entire day to not complain. Most days, I do count my blessings and realize my limitations to change other things in my life, and I’m always grateful for what God has given me. Blessings!
I’m still chuckling about that young girl. She is like a 5th or 6th grader. Priceless! Being grateful is key.
I love these scriptures that go along with this list. When we put on the armor of God, we always need to make sure that our sword of the spirit is fully loaded, and that it is always expandable. We can only use the power of scripture to change our hearts and allow us to escape our old self, when we can lean on verses that we can quickly recall to change our focus. I want to have a sword that is so heavy that I need to add wheels on it to move it.
I’m smiling at your heavy sword needing wheels. But you are right about needing the sword loaded for “bear.”
I have heard a teaching that stated that the Hebrew word for “complain” means to “stay the night” It does seem that the more we grumble while in a situation the longer we stay in that situation in order to learn whatever it is that God wants us to learn. My wife says that’s why God puts slow drivers in front of me and fast drivers behind me! To learn patience in all things!
Hi Jon! I had not heard that about the Hebrew. I will have to check that out. I think your wife and my wife are on the same team!! 🙂
These are really good suggestions for curtailing complaining! It is so easy to fall off the wagon and murmur our way thru life, but i pray Jesus will help us keep these in mind.
Thanks Pam. The response to the sermon and the challenge of No Complaining has been phenomenal, heart-warming, and funny.