“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).
Within your mind, you have an inner voice—a constant internal dialogue that only you can hear. Sometimes it will say things like, “Oh, that’s pretty!” when you see some flowers in bloom.
But it can also flood your mind with negative thoughts: “I’m so stupid. They must hate me. I can’t believe I said that. Why can’t I be more like them?”
What do you do when your inner voice bothers you? Take a moment to think through last week. When your inner voice bothered you, what did you do to make it go away? Or what did you do to make yourself feel better? If you are ready for a change, here’s what you need to do:
Stop listening to yourself, and start talking to yourself.
Instead of listening to your inner voice, start talking to it. Correct it when it is wrong. For example, tell yourself that
- you are wise for salvation through Jesus Christ.
- God declares you are worthy of his love.
- your sins do not make you a failure, because you are forgiven in Christ.
- your unique gifts mean that God has a unique purpose just for you.
What would happen this week if you stopped listening to your inner voice and instead started talking to it? Give it a try. Just be sure to let your words be guided by God’s truth.
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About the Author
Pastor Matt Ewart
Matt Ewart was born and raised in Oklahoma and has lived in several different places since then, including Nebraska, Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Alaska (for a summer). He has served as a pastor at NorthCross Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, since 2014. Before that, he served churches located in Commerce City, Colorado, and Tempe, Arizona. Pastor Matt enjoys being outside, listening to podcasts, and tinkering with things in his free time.