Is Your Self-Talk Destroying You?

(In July, I taught this lesson for the Ladies at Blackstone Valley Baptist Church, Cumberland, RI)

We all struggle with thoughts of not being happy or contented. Most of the time it is because of lies that Satan has placed in our minds. My brother-in-law, a full-time Christian counselor, told me that many times his main job in counseling is to help his counselees discover the time and place where Satan placed lies in their minds and to guide them into replacing those lies with God’s truth.

There was a survey done with 5,000 middle-class single and married men and women with above average intelligence. Single people envied married people because they had children and a home. Married people envied single people because they are out enjoying life and are really happy.

Do you know how the FBI trains secret service agents to identify counterfeit money? They put them in a room with real money. For hours they study the details of the real thing…they feel it…they smell it. They become so familiar with real money that when they come across counterfeit money, they can pick it out the bad money because they have become so familiar with the good money.

That is how we must be. We must be able to distinguish between Satan’s lies and God’s truth.
Satan lies to us about our churches and living  separated lives, “God’s ways are too restrictive.”
Satan lies to us about our husbands, “We deserve better husbands than what we have.”
Satan lies to us about our sins, “Those sins aren’t really that bad.”
Satan lies to us about our circumstances. “If our husbands weren’t so cranky, we wouldn’t be so snappy.”

Remember Satan is the father of lies…and a good one.

Secular philosophy says no one can be healed unless he explores his past in detail and discovers the events of his past that make him feel the way he feels. Self-talk are those thoughts we tell ourselves that appear to us as truth…but they are really lies.

A man’s emotions are not caused by the circumstances of his past or present, but they are caused by what he tells himself about those circumstances, whether they are truth or lies.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Philippians 4:8 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.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Consider these self-talk lies:

Lie-I can’t do anything right. (Truth-You didn’t do one thing right, but you do many things right)
Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Lie-I always make mistakes. (Truth-you made one mistake)
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Lie-I have to please everyone. (Truth-You don’t have to strive for approval of everyone…God accepts you)
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Lie-I am dumb. (Truth-God has given you intelligence)
Psalms 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Lie-I don’t have any talents. (Truth-God has given you talents)
1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Lie-I don’t have any friends. (Truth-God has given you friends)
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Lie-I don’t have enough money. (Truth-God has given you more than the rest of the world)
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Lie-The things he says to me makes me so angry. (Truth-I make myself angry by the things he says to me)
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

If we as women govern our lives by believing lies, we will never get victory. Here are a few things we should remember when we struggle with negative self-talk.

• We must not get anxious about what others might be thinking of us. It is ludicrous to think that everyone is going to like us and like everything we do.
• We must focus our thoughts on God’s promises.
• We must not fret over our imperfections and remind ourselves that we are God’s creatures and thank Him for the way He has made us.
• When we do make mistakes, don’t dwell on them. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching us.

When you make a mistake, never give up!

Acrostic for FAIL.
First
Attempt
In
Learning

Acrostic for END
Effort
Never
Dies

Acrostic for NO
Next
Opportunity