Often we have an internal dialogue which is ripping us off and defeating us… we have an inner voice – our soul, our mind, that can depreciate our assets, rationalize a situation or just plain speaks with unbelief in our own abilities and more importantly the God we serve and that empowers us.
Lies.
This voice can tell us we are worthless when the truth is that we are very precious and God delights in us and loves us so much that He gave His only son to ransom, rescue and save us.
What shapes this voice we listen to?
- our past
- our parents
- our peer groups
- the media
- the enemy
Our voice can often tell us that we wont ever be able to do anything to help or be very god at anything – but God calls us his partners and calls all of us to work with Him and promises to work through us.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill
My voices says:
- who do you think you are?
- no one will listen to you
- no one wants to listen to you
- you’re just a …
- nothing is going to change – why bother?
- you’re a proven failure
- you’re not good enough
- you’ll never be good enough
The voices in my head tell me everything that I don’t like about myself, the remind me of my flaws and failings. They however are silent when it comes to reminding me what God says about me and His promises and unfailing faithfulness.
“Regardless of what you want to do or who you are, fear will always see you as wholly unqualified for anything you ever dream or attempt.” Jon Acuff
Fear is going to tell you you cant.
It’s going to lie to you and make excuses so you stop in your tracks.
Fear and insecurity partner with the enemy to limit us and restrict us. To kill the dream.
But God is great. He is good.
He wants us to rip that negative self talk out of our heads, to change the cd so to speak and to hear HIS voice of hope and faith and truth.
God qualifies us for anything we dream and attempt.
What does the bible say?
- let the weak say “I am strong”
- greater is God in me that the enemy in the world
- those that know their God will be strong and do exploits
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
This is why God tells us to renew our mind, to be transformed and to fix our eyes (and ears!) upon Himself.
There is an enemy who wants us to think we are defenceless, useless, hopeless weaklings. If he can shut us down he shuts us up.
Can we see beyond what people say about our limitations to the fact that we serve a God who doesn’t even have that word in His vocabulary? To the God whose capability doesn’t rise and fall with our own inability?
Can we see beyond what people say about our dreams and plans to the God who has actually given them to us and is fully competent to bring them to pass?
We need to listen to the truth that God speaks. We need to listen to HIS voice in our head and hearts.
Override any untruth (from the enemy or ourselves) with the truth of God.
Become master of your own voice – take every wrong thought captive. Don’t just think and believe every thought you have. Not every thought we have is correct. This is why I think it is important to read the Bible – to learn what God says about us.
Then we can reprogramme our heart.
Remember, we are loved with an everlasting love. We are children of God. Servants of God. Strong. Mighty. We carry the living God within us – a great powerful treasure in jars of mere clay. God calls us and anoints us and uses us. He works in us and through us. Despite our flaws and failings He is great and great in and through us for His glory. He chooses the weak and the foolish, the ordinary, to demonstrate His extraordinariness.
“Don’t underestimate what God can do through your life. God has a very long, proven, and consistent history of using foolish and broken things for His glory.” ~ Eugene Cho
He is our great healer, our great strength, the one who saves us.
“The best way to get rid of the negative thoughts is to crowd them out with something else bigger and more beautiful: worship of the One who holds everything in His powerful and capable hands.” ― Jocelyn Green
So how do we change the voices in our head?
- Read the Word of God and transform the way you think (Romans 12:2)
- Take control of the thoughts – when the lies and doubt come, change your mind, change the topic. Stop passively agreeing with the negative voices.
- Replace the negative thought with a positive one. Change the tone of your thoughts.
- Don’t play the victim, take control and make some changes if changes need to be made.
- Find someone to encourage you, share your fear and ask for intentional help.
- Analyse what you’re thinking. Is this really true?
- Line a new truth up against the lie.
- Give yourself grace. Remind you that God’s grace is sufficient.
“I’ve tucked those negative thoughts in a drawer, and for the most part, though I know the drawer still exists, it never gets opened.” ― K. Martin Beckner
What else do you do to stop the voices in your head dragging you down?
Who are you listening to?
4 comments
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January 26, 2014 at 8:17 am
Angela Johnson Ayers
THANK YOU!! I totally needed to hear this. God Bless you!
January 26, 2014 at 8:24 am
fireball3316
thats awesome, i love it when God does that! so what new truth do you need to find?
January 26, 2014 at 8:52 am
Emily from Reaching Beyond My Reach
This must be on a lot of hearts this year. I wrote something very similar earlier this year. You are so right. The voices are not nearly as significant as THE only voice that matters. I love how you summed it up, “God qualifies us for anything we dream and attempt.” That’s powerful truth right there! You aren’t alone in your quest to drown out the voices! Blessings to you and yours. http://www.reachingbeyondmyreach.com/noise-canceling-headphones-for-the-new-year/
January 26, 2014 at 8:59 am
fireball3316
oh i love that THE only voice that matters – that is so the truth. so often we head off misguided or limit ourselves but if we would just listen to the ONE – the one that said to Gideon MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR, then we would step out of the boat and into the plans of God. heading off to read your post now! thanks for sharing! blessings, Claire