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!