Weekly Devotional - "Self Talk" - 10/22/12

 from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

SELF TALK

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his (her) life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:6

For most of my life I’ve read the James chapter 3 “Taming the Tongue” passage with the focus on what my tongue has the potential to do in the lives of others. Like a bit in the mouth of a horse or a tiny rudder on a massive ship, our tongues can steer people toward Jesus or away from Him. Our tongues can set the world on fire for Jesus or destroy like fire when we gossip, lie, swear, brag, exaggerate, complain, manipulate, and mislead. The tiny tongue is a massive weapon of destruction or a tender instrument of healing and an arsenal of truth.

That was the primary Communications 101 lesson I gathered from James 3 until the theme, Think Right: Win the Fight! Now I’ve come to fully understand that what’s true for what we speak to others, also holds true for what we speak to ourselves.

Your and my steady stream of self-talk has the potential to steer us toward Jesus or away from Him. It can set our hearts on fire as we speak His promises and focus on His presence, or it can destroy us when we lie to ourselves to cover up guilt and shame, when we are proud and consider ourselves and our choices better than our neighbors, or when we grumble in our spirits about mornings, long lines, and short weekends.

The words we speak to ourselves today set the course for all our tomorrows. Do you want to know what your life will look like 5, 10, 20 years from now? Don’t look in the mirror. Look in your thought closet. The words you speak to yourself are the bit and rudder that are steering you to the woman you will become.

The way we use our tongues, whether talking to ourselves or to others, demonstrates who we are and to Whom we belong. Our words align us with God or the father of lies. We know what it is to talk out of both sides of our mouth, don’t we? Sometimes our words are right, true, and pleasing to God. Other times we use the language of the enemy – speaking words that destroy and devour.

James says that this must not be! Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers (and sisters!) this should not be (v. 10). It shouldn’t be, but we know it is! What do we do? Outside of Christ, we can’t do a thing. We are incapable of perfect obedience. We need Christ. And when we cry out to Him, He will answer and help.

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Think on it: What is the speech pattern of your self-talk? Ask Jesus for His power to speak Philippians 4:8 words to your soul.  

The things we think about, focus on, and surround ourselves with will shape who we become.

Author Unknown