What do you know about self-talk? I’m somewhat new to the topic but – the more I learn about it – the more I see the benefits. Self-talk is exactly what it sounds like: talking to yourself. It’s your internal (or external for some of us who aren’t afraid to look a little crazy) monologue. Psychologists have learned that self-talk awareness can lead to dramatic improvements in a person’s mental and physical health. When you begin to realize how much the conversations in your head impact your daily actions, it becomes glaringly obvious why some things get done and other things just… don’t.

Experts will tell you that the solution is to be kind to yourself, speaking to yourself in the way most of us try speak to others – with grace, love, humor and compassion. And while that’s not wrong, I think it’s also not the full solution. I don’t know about you but, even when I’m motivated and committed, I’m still only human. I want the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Sometimes I don’t even know what I want. I get lazy and manipulate my own thoughts to support bad decisions. In short – if my best life is dependent upon myself giving myself advice and pep talks – Yikes…

The reality is that I need something MUCH bigger than myself to talk sense into my life. I need a message that is bigger than my success or my failure. I don’t need “self-talk.” I need “God-talk.”

God-talk is using scripture to direct my thinking. Here’s an example of what I mean, using 2 Timothy 1:7 :

• Me: “I already had 5 Oreos and it’s only 9a.m. I should probably just scrap the diet idea today and start again on Monday. Hello, rest of the Oreo pack…”
• God: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Just because I ate Oreos for breakfast doesn’t mean I failed the day. God’s spirit in me gives me strength and self-discipline beyond myself, even against an enemy as fearsome as an Oreo pack.”

Totally hypothetical example, of course, but you get the idea. It’s a Sunday School concept that should stick with us well beyond our Sunday School days – memory work matters.

What’s your verse of choice for tough inner-battles? Comment below or email me privately at Emily@messyworship.com to share!!

Prayer: Dear Lord, you put all the wisdom we need for daily life in your love letter to us – the Bible. Please help me to base my identity in your truth and fight my battles with your spirit. Thank you for being the voice of strength, reason and grace in my head and heart. Amen.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash