How’s Your Self-Talk These Days?
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
When John Roebling devised a plan to build a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn experts thought it was impossible. They said a bridge spanning that distance couldn’t withstand the winds and tides. But Roebling refused to concede defeat; instead, he and his son, Washington, worked to solve the problems. Then just as construction was about to start, Roebling was killed in an underwater accident that left his son brain-damaged and unable to walk or talk. The prevailing wisdom was to abandon the project, but Washington Roebling was determined to fulfil his father’s dream. He developed a system of communication by touching a finger to his wife’s arm, and she in turn conveyed his ideas to the project engineers. For thirteen years that’s how he supervised construction—and in 1883 the first car drove across the Brooklyn Bridge. The ‘impossible’ had become reality! Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation at home, on the job, with your finances, or in a relationship? If so, what you tell yourself about it is important. Your self-talk sets you up for joy or misery. You can tell where your faith is by what comes out of your mouth: ‘Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts…’ (v 45). One pastor says: ‘When the pressure’s on, what comes out of your mouth lets you know if you need to make some adjustments…When you want something to show up in your outward man, deposit God’s Word in the inward man. Feed on it continually…once you believe it, you’ll find yourself saying it, and once you start saying it, your entire being will reflect the treasure of His Word inside.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be open to be filled with Your Word so it can be a guiding light for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
My self-talk is not good these days. I don’t get much in the way of appreciation or compliments anymore. I’m 54 with a BA in accounting looking for a new job, but no one will give me a chance anymore. That tells me I’m not worthy of a more challenging, better-paying job. Ever since I lost a well-paid job that I liked 3 years ago, I’ve felt this way. I am working, but it’s not what I really want. God, I’m still waiting – but ready to give up!