Self talk. The voice inside your head that builds you up or tears you down, saying things like:
“Keep going. Don’t give up!”
Or things like:
“Why bother? I may as well quit.”
That negative voice reminds me of Eeyore.
You know Eeyore. Winnie the Pooh’s gloomy little friend.
Niggling in the back of my consciousness, nothing is off-limits:
- the 10 lbs that crept on over the holidays
- the time I wasted today
- not reading as much as I should
- a bad attitude
- past mistakes
- future uncertainties
I give Eeyore more attention than he deserves, letting his words bounce around my brain too long. I know better. Wise King Solomon said,
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.
~Prov 4:23 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul expounded,
… take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
~2 Cor 10:5 (NIV)
It sounds easy enough, but why isn’t it?
Negative thoughts weigh us down mentally and physically. They cause us to feel anxious and frazzled, or depressed and lethargic. God designed a wondrous connection between body and soul, so it’s hard to renew your mind when your body is off-kilter!
Last week I shared a few simple tips for keeping your body functioning at its best. (SIMPLE, I promise! Check it out: New Year, New Body) When you take care of your body, especially your brain, your thinking becomes clearer and it’s easier to recognize wrong thoughts.
Once you’ve taken the wrong thoughts captive, replace them with God’s Word. Memorize verses and promises that speak God’s truth into your life. A few favorites:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
~2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For the Lord God is a sun and a shield,
He bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does He withhold from him whose walk is blameless.
~Psalm 84:11 (NIV)
We know that all things work together
for the good of those who love God:
those who are called according to His purpose.
~Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
Don’t despair if you don’t know verses that apply to your situation. (That’s either Eeyore or the enemy. Ignore them both.) The verse I’m personalizing this week is Jeremiah 1:19,
[Wrong thoughts] will come against me but they won’t defeat me,
because God is with me and will rescue me.
Jehovah Shammah, our Constant Companion, is with us and will rescue us from ourselves. How great is THAT? He’ll lead us to scripture that will help build our faith. Some good places to look are:
- Bible studies and devotionals
- Christian Music
- Sermons and interviews
When you search for godly encouragement, you’ll be amazed at the things He brings across your path. But when wrong thoughts pop into your head, remember Martin Luther’s explanation:
Thoughts are like birds that fly overhead.
You can’t control them, but
you can keep them from building a nest in your beard.
Susan, just yesterday I had a conversation with a friend I’m prepping to teach with at church. She said if women can worry, they can meditate. SO TRUE! Just as one negative thought can sprout all kinds of other gunk, one powerful truth {verse} can sprout good! 2 Tim 1:7 is one of my favorites, and with my kids, Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” It’s easy for them to remember and I always reinforce “and God alone is good.”
Great verse, Jeanette! And your friend makes a great point about meditating on scripture. It’s way better than meditating on worrisome things that may or may not ever happen.
This was in the Jesus Calling devo just this morning:
Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times…
Don’t multiply your suffering this way!
So true! So glad you stopped by today
Niggling in the back of my consciousness, nothing is off-limits:
the 10 lbs that crept on over the holidays
the time I wasted today
future uncertainties
Susan, these are so niggling in the back of my consciousness today! What a timely post. Please whisper a prayer for me today. We’re hanging in limbo as Vic waits to hear where the company is sending him next. The uncertainty of not knowing yet is burdening me this morning. I trust God and am trying really hard to be still. My focus verse this morning is Prov. 12:25 “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.” I’m begging God for a good word today.
I loved your email, and especially the way you and Vic were praying the proverbs. So powerful! Joining you as you pray and wait.
I love this post. And btw, our Pre-K 3 class will be celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s birthday this Friday. We get to wear yellow and red and eat pancakes and honey. Well, maybe I’ll pass on the honey.
Memorizing Scripture has helped me to counteract those lies that come into my mind from time to time. I also have been developing new habits which help in the healthy living part of my life.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
I love what you’ve been sharing on your blog, Debbie. Great tips!
Have a great time celebrating Pooh Bear on Friday and think of me when you see Eeyore! Well, think of me not listening to Eeyore
Thanks for stopping by today!
Wonderful post, Susan, and yes–so timely. Your interpretation of Jeremiah 1:19 is a perfect one to carrying around with me, ready to pounce on the Eeyore niggles in my mind!
And Jeanette, I love what your friend said, that if we can worry we can meditate. Oh, if only I’d meditate on Him as much as I meditate on all the wrong or worrisome or frustrating things in my life! Great reminder!
Thanks, Vonda. I’m smiling at all my writer buddies lovin’ “niggling”
Such a fun word and so fitting for Eeyore
Great post!! Yep we all need to do the self talk…. after the surgery I cannot talk for 2 days “totally complete silence for me” per drs. order. It was not easy. I had 3 1/2 sheets of paper of written words (conversation) for Mark , written on each side of the sheet
. I slipped couple of times bec Mark keeps talking to me of course & did some sign languages. On those 2 days I kept myself busy reading, tubing & sewing. I was cooped up for 4 days in the house! I have a lot of time thinking too about friends, travel & family. My dad use to say an “idle mind is a Devil’s plaground”. My favorite book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. And Ecclesiastes 3:7 – “a time to tear & time to mend, time to be silent & time to speak”. When I sew I listen to Christian songs or from great song in my era. I love your posts!! Hope to see you soon my friend!!
Wow, Anita – you’ve had quite a week! And I’m with you on a love for Ecclesiastes — Solomon really knew his stuff, didn’t he?
I hope to see YOU, too! Hopefully the Lord will cross our paths this year
Sounds like Eeyore and the enemy has been knocking at the door of all our hearts. Thanks for sharing! Praise God, prayer and renewing your mind, as well as a song God gives, sets our hearts and minds back on Jesus.
Hugs!
I love music too, Glenda. What a powerful tool to take control of our thoughts.
Your post on the grandkids today reminded me of this: When I taught VBS, I made up songs to the memory verses each day. Nothing complicated, just short, easy-to-learn tunes that I STILL remember. Maybe that’s something you can do with your little ones!
Your post is a shot of energy. I am purposing to be more diligent with exercise and body health–especially when the negative naysayers come knocking. Blessings
Good to see you, Marcia! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. After reading your book, I know you have plenty of mental ammunition against wrong thinking!
That was a jam packed post, girl! Guarding our minds is so important to our daily overall well being. And I love hearing more names of God, our constant companion… what a comfort! ~ Blessings out from Maine, Amy
Hey there, cute Amy! With your life coaching, I know you do lots of good teaching on “stinking thinking.” Thanks for stopping by today!
Susan, this is great! It kind of goes with a devotional from Max Lucado’s “Grace for the Moment” book that I read this week: “God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
Wow! That truly impacted me just as what you wrote here: “Negative thoughts weigh us down mentally and physically.”
Amen Sister! Thank you for such a wonderful post!
Blessings!
~Anna
Happy belated birthday, Anna
I love that Max quote — so true. It goes with the post I’ve scheduled for next week. Hope you’ll come back for the last installment!
Have you been reading my journal again?
I too agree with Jeanette’s comment. It’s simple and oh so true. When I’m going through a specific trial, I’ll sometimes jot down scriptures that pertain to the issue and post them around the house.
And by the way, any post that includes the word “niggling” has my full attention.
Oh, Cathy – I love notes stuck around the house! My thing is index cards. They’re everywhere. Stained, wrinkled… but they’re not going anywhere! And isn’t it amazing that the Lord will bring a random verse from a random source that’s PERFECT for your situation? Uh-mazing!
And yes, isn’t “niggling” just the coolest little word?
You’ve been reading my mind yet again! I’ve been noodling over this as of late…I should say these things, because you hit on so much!
some day soon I will share about the time I heard God tell me to guard my heart…and then a few hours later my world came to a screeching halt.
what I’ve been thinking most: There’s a reason they say to hide His Word in our hearts…it’s the best shield I’ve ever used…
I can’t wait to read about that, Nikki. And you’re right – hiding it in our hearts keeps it closer. Anytime we’re in a pickle, the Holy Spirit will bring it to the front!
I know this post was long and covered a lot. The truth of the matter — half of it’s “on the cutting room floor.” I could’ve done a month-long series on this topic alone. I’ll save all those notes and see what the Lord does with them!
Oh girl, you are right on the money! I think we, as women, all struggle with this. I know how easy it is for me to venture into “less-than-land.” What wonderful encouragement and power verses!! Thank you! Oh, and I think “niggling” was my favorite word!
I love you!
You’re right – this is definitely a struggle for women, for a lot of reasons. Glad you liked the verses, but you’ve got some great verses of your own, Kristi Groundhog!
I knew you’d like “niggling.” I tried to reword it, but I loved it too much and thought it was a perfect verb for Eeyore
Susan!! This is so crazy . . . I finished this Friday’s post yesterday and it’s part 2 of “Is Your Helmet On?” and this is the very topic – taking our thoughts captive.
Funny how God leads in similar ways.
God bless you and thank you for sharing your wisdom with us today. I love your exhortation to search for godly encouragement – so true.
Love, Hester
That’s awesome, Hester! Can’t wait to read what he’s showing you. I cut about half of it out to meet my self-imposed 500 word limit. So much to talk about with our thought lives.
I’m so glad you took time to read and comment. Thank you
I’d like to get this post intravenously, please. Thank you very much! You nailed this one! And couldn’t we, shouldn’t we speak more kindly and positively to our self? That would be Yes,and Amen.
That’s true, Di. We’re awfully hard on ourselves, aren’t we?
This has been in my head a lot lately as I’ve been pondering what it means to be a new creation with a new heart and mind. It isn’t a makeover on the old, but completely newly made. It’s really affecting a lot of the self-talk I’m starting to replace. Thanks for this wisdom and reinforcement.
Thanks for sharing, Amy. I like your point about not making over the old. Reminded me of the old saying, you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
Glad He ditches the junk and starts over!
Thank you for sharing God’s wisdom and yours, Susan…I am constantly asking God to take captive my thoughts…such a process at times…Blessings, sweet friend
It IS a process, Dolly. A daily renewal in my mind
So glad you stopped by. Hugs to you!
Today i found my mind wondering to the negative thoughts simply because a scale, not my HOME scale, reflected a pretty ugly number…in my mind anyway :0). Rather than have a defeated attitude control the rest of my day, I am choosing to verbally claim victory and not give in to the negative thought pattern. there is NO reason to think I cab “do more” because in all honesty, I did all I should have done this past few weeks…eating healthy, making choices, walking/exercising daily.
The number does not rule…the Spirit fills and soothes and reminds me it is all going to be ok as long as I walk by faith and not by sight {of the number on a scale!!!}
Enjoy the day…
Hi Donna! I’m so glad you went back and read this. And I’m also glad you didn’t let that mean old number ruin your day! His mercies are new each day, so we should extend new mercies each day TOO. I hope you walk in those and keep your head up!
Thanks for taking time to comment
Oh, that familiar negative self talk! I think we all struggle with it. I like the Eeyore analogy, too. Made me smile. All the verses you referenced are so helpful. What I often do, when a negative thought enters my mind, is to simply pray. That feeling of handing it over to God is so helpful. Thanks for the encouragement today.
Thanks, Courtney! That quick prayer is such a sanity saver, isn’t it? So glad you stopped by today.
Ahhh, Eeyore my nemesis. He brays all kinds of gloomy, drag-me-down messages. I might listen to upbeat Christian music and dance with abandon for a song, or I just might put my head down for some heartfelt prayer, and then power on through until my faking it turns into my making it, and my spirit is renewed. Thanks for the extra shot of prayer and resolve!
Glad you stopped by, Kim! Yes, don’t we all have that nagging little Eeyore voice? I’m with you – If I’m home alone, I play my happy Jesus music and dance until I snap out of it. If I’m out in public, I try to restrain myself
I was just reading (and posted on the Soli Deo GLoria Sisterhood FB page) a quote from Oswald Chambers today. “When we are born again…we have visions about what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not…to doubt that it can be attained.” To me, I have to keep going back to what Jesus envisions for me so that I don’t give into my own doubt and my own lack of “seeing.”
What a great challenge, Jen. If He calls us to something, nothing can stop us other than our own disbelief and laziness. Thanks so much for stopping by today!