Speaking Truth to Yourself

"Think about this: there is no voice

more influential in your life than your own,

because no one talks to you more than you do.

You’ve had regular conversations with yourself today,

most of the time not even being aware of it.”  Paul Tripp

What’s your self-talk? It’s amazing what’s happening up there in our minds! Let’s look at a few of the things that are going on, and see what we can do to ensure the conversations we’re having with ourselves are actually based on Truth.

We dream. We make stuff up. In our heads, think, analyze, and suppose about all kinds of situations and people. We take a nugget of what we actually experienced and run with it. We dream.

We gossip in our heads. Negative thoughts about others flood our thoughts. We think about them in the worst light. We give them no benefit of the doubt.

We lie. When our thoughts aren’t founded on God’s Truth, they naturally stray and begin to sound like self-lies:

• “You aren’t worth anything.” Or the opposite, “The whole world revolves around you.”
• “You deserve __________ (something good).” Or the opposite, “You don’t deserve anything.”
• “Money is very important. Get out there and make all you can.”
• “It doesn’t really matter how you dress. People who disagree with you don’t matter either. You’re free to be yourself.” Or the opposite, “How you dress is who you are. You must dress in the height of fashion and beyond your means.”
• “You’re not (mom, wife, woman) enough.”
• “You’re quite okay and not responsible to anyone.”
• “Breaking the glass ceiling is important. Show everyone what a woman can do!”
• “I am so proud of myself. Just look at my accomplishments.”

And, on it goes. We talk to ourselves, speaking untruths and half-truths, and we fool ourselves.

God knew this would be a problem. He said, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Thankfully, the Lord gave us His Word, the Bible, which actually speaks to us and corrects us. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

It’s so amazing how God does this! He wants us to be able to speak Truth to ourselves. Here are a few Bible verses about how we can actually do this:

• Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
• Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day (Psalm 25:5).
• I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings (Psalm 77:12).
• O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day (Psalm 119:97).
• Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).
• Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).
• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

When we feed our minds with Truth, we will dwell on Truth. When we correct wrong thinking with biblical ideas and sound doctrine, our thoughts get straightened out. When we refuse to dwell on evil and determine to think about what God wants us to think about (Philippians 4:8, above), then we’re beginning to speak truth to ourselves.

What’s the outcome?

1. You’ll have a lot more positivity and edifying thoughts. You’ll be dwelling on Truth. Jesus said, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).
2. You’ll do less goofy dreaming. Instead of making things up, you’ll be thinking about actualities. You’ll be cultivating the mind of Christ, which is based on biblical Truth. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
3. You’ll have joy. When you praise God in your heart and rejoice in His goodness and salvation, you’ll be naturally joyful. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

Truth is all about Jesus, Who said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). Jesus also said the Bible is Truth, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).

Do you know Jesus? Are your thoughts in line with biblical Truth? Then, your self-talk will be wholesome, wise, and good. God bless you!

A Call to Worship: Using Pinterest Differently

Did you know you can use your Pinterest boards to promote worship and inspire others? I stumbled upon this idea simply because I have many interests. I collect photos of flowers, birds, rocks and minerals, animals, insects, sea creatures, etc. I look back over my boards and realized the sheer variety of beautiful created things. I am moved to worship God for His greatness. So many different flowers! What a variety of birds! God is great! God is awesome! “Thank you, Lord, for showing your greatness in flowers. Thank You for showing us You are the great Designer. Thank You for leaving no doubt as to creation. Statistically it’s impossible to have this many varieties of any one flower—roses, lilies, or orchids. Thank You, Lord, for caring about every little petal. Thank You for your attention to detail, for Your creativity in colors.” I love the green flowers! Wow, just look at those delicate cactus flowers! Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (Luke 12:27).

I go on and on in praise and awe.

When I look at all the little birds—and big birds, and swimming, diving, and paddling birds—and see how they care for their young, weave nests, borrow nests, etc. I am moved to praise. “Lord, how many little birds! Look at their feathers, colors, and different body shapes. I think of their songs! Dear Lord, You created birds and fish on the fifth day of creation, thank you for these beautiful creatures that you created for your glory. You taught them how to feed themselves, build nests, and care for their young. You gave them the ability to fly—or not—and swim, dive, capture food . . . . I praise You, Lord, for Your marvelous creation!” Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father (Matthew 10:29).

I marvel at the variety of rocks and minerals and gemstones. The colors! The different shapes of natural crystals! The beauty of combinations and lusters! Why did God make rocks and minerals absolutely beautiful? “Lord, I’m in awe of your mighty creation! The variety is so amazing! I didn’t even know about some of these, yet You put them in the earth to give testimony to your awesome design. Thank you, Lord!” Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold (Job 28:1-2, 6).

I began my collection of sea creatures a few months ago. If you only look at corals, wow! Such variety! Add fish, jellyfish, sea mammals, neon-colored nudibranches, and deep-sea creatures, and you have a feast for the eyes. Why did God care how He designed animals that are so far down in the depths of the sea? Because He knew that people would marvel over the detail when they found them. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? (Job 12:7-9)

I go to my board about animals. Some make me laugh! Some are so magnificent that I can only stare at them. I never even knew these critters even existed before: the great green anole (lizard), a giant pangolin (like an armadillo), a takin (goat-antelope), a quokka (something like a marmot), and a bat-eared fox. “Lord, on the sixth day of creation, You spoke, and all of these animals instantly appeared. Porcupines, stags, moose, antelopes, buffaloes, lizards, bears, and furry little friends like dogs and cats . . . . Each has its own inborn habits and instincts, and you’ve covered them in fur and scales. You created them all, Lord! I praise You for all these different, colored, camouflaged, and strange-looking animals. I thank you for pets and livestock. I am in awe again because of Your magnificent creation. I worship You for meeting our human needs by providing many of these animals. Thank You, God!” And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Genesis 1:24-26).

I have another board. It's called “science and the beauty and design of nature,” which includes macro photos of tiny things, Hubble photos from outer space, seashells, and amazing patterns in nature. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas (Psalm 8:3-8).

God created the earth for man. Adam and Eve were God's magnum opus. He placed them in the Garden of Eden, a paradise prepared especially for them. When they disobeyed God and sinned, the Lord had already put into place the sacrifice of His Son for them. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (from 1 Peter 1:18-20). It’s too much for our minds to take in, but we praise Him for making a way of salvation through Jesus Christ.

What do you collect on Pinterest? Recipes? (Me, too.) Ideas for home decoration and organization? (Me, too.) Hairstyles and fashion? (Me, too.) In addition, think about choosing some aspect of God’s creation. Collect photos of what you love. Take in the variety, and share your amazing pictures with your family.

And, worship God.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9)

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,

and of thy wondrous works (Psalm 145:5).