You and I are constantly talking to ourselves. So what have you been saying to yourself lately? Since you have more conversations with yourself than anyone else, it is imperative to say the things that you need to hear. Instead of listening to the self-defeating talk emanating from your old self, tell yourself what you need to hear. Refuse to…
- Pine away in Self-pityville
- Loaf away in Mediocre-ville
- Fade away into Backslider-ville
- Limp away into Isolation-ville
- Hide away in Fears-ville
- Waste away in Margaritaville!
There are times in life when you must take yourself in hand, and speak truth to your own soul. Very few people will tell you what you “need to hear.” Your friends will likely tell you what you want to hear. And if you have a mentor, he will tell you what you need to hear. Even so, no one knows you as well as you. Other than the Holy Spirit, you are the most qualified person to speak to your own soul. We need to learn the art of self-admonition from David.
Of all the voices that can lead you astray, your own voice may be the most lethal. David was in the throes of depression when he spoke to himself—‘Why are you cast down O my soul’. He chose to STOP LISTENING to himself, and STARTED TALKING to himself. The worst advice you can get is the “self-talk” which emanates from your own downcast heart. David probed even deeper, He interrogated himself. ‘Soul—why are you in turmoil?’ Let’s be candid, when you are depleted and depressed, you are not thinking right. Words are the overflow of the heart, and it is neither healthy nor helpful to listen to yourself when you are in a pit. Your heart will chastise you, condemn you, and take you further down into despair. In those times, you cannot afford to listen to yourself.
You must speak Truth to your own heart. Find a portion of Scripture that addresses your situation. You need to hear Truth—God’s Word is Truth. Re-uttering some lie the Devil has whispered in your ear will never have a “lifting effect.” David moped around for a year or so under a heavy cloud of guilt. He never would have found restoration by feeding on the trash-talk coming out of his heart. Follow David’s example after your failure. Have the courage to verbally confront yourself. Instead of talking to another human, first give yourself a Truth-talk.
Don’t fall into your old default pattern, and seek escape through some sinful behavior. Abraham Lincoln said, “Rivers follow the line of least resistance, that’s why they are so crooked.” Integrity must be desired before it can be developed. Do you want deliverance from duplicity, deceitfulness, and residual depravity? Then be brave by practicing judgment-day honesty with God, yourself, and a trusted friend.
If you have messed up—“fess up.” Tell God the “real things”. You don’t need to confess the same sin numerous times. Admit it to God ONCE, and then thank Him for forgiveness. It is not God’s will for you to spend endless days moping and mourning. If you fall down, don’t stay down. God’s grace is far greater than your guilt. What you need is a quick recovery. So get your sins under the cleansing fountain, and thank God for His forgiveness. Then tell yourself to “GET UP!”
Do this immediately, stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself. David not only questioned himself, he also counseled himself. Here’s the rest of David’s speech to his troubled heart, “Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Ps. 42:5). He went from the pit of despair to Praise Avenue—AND YOU CAN TOO! Notice how he chose to praise God, despite his emotions. The Lord wants you to “do right” before you “feel right.” You cannot allow yourself to get in bondage to your feelings. Character is doing the right thing until it becomes natural. The goal is to grow in Christ-likeness to the point where your first response is the right response.
This generation needs some straight-talk. I don’t believe in morbid introspection, but I do believe in Holy Spirit inspection. Instead of trusting our own wisdom: issue heaven an invitation, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). As the Spirit reveals dark places, you must make a bee-line for the Light. I like this statement, “Whatever the Light reveals, the Blood of Christ can heal.” We have innumerable incentives from the Word to MAN-UP and WOMAN-UP.
We must have the courage to confront ourselves, confess our sins, and claim forgiveness. Your tongue will set the course for your life. It is like the rudder on a boat, and the bridle on a horse—it sets the direction for your life (see James 3:3-5). The mental photograph in your mind will dominate your thinking. And your thoughts will dictate your words, and your words will direct your steps. Words are just the overflow of the heart. A good man speaks from the good treasure in his heart, and an evil man speaks evil because that is what lies within him. Jesus said that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (See Luke 6:45). And conversing with ourselves is necessary at times.
What you say is important, and what you say to yourself is really important. It’s not just crazy people who talk to themselves—we all do! The fool speaks to his heart and says, “There is no God” (Ps. 53:1). But the New Testament teaches, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19). Every time we open our mouths we are programming ourselves, and those around us. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). So you can speak death, or you can speak life. What you say to yourself is so very powerful.
Tell yourself to listen up [and if need be—shut up], get up, straighten up, and GROW UP! Say what you need to hear.
Harold Vaughan
