Have you ever listened to the voice in your head? Really, truly listened to the words you are telling yourself and the conversations that take place within your mind? No one has as much direct access to your own mind as you do. You form opinions about yourself and they are shaping your life without your knowledge, because most of us don’t truly pay attention to what we tell ourselves.
This week I have been so anxious and I worrisome about what my future holds. I was in my house alone and was frustrated and thoughts were racing through my mind. All the sudden I had this moment of clarity. This moment when time seemed to pause and I thought through all the things that had just rushed through my mind–Oh my gosh Olivia, you’re so stupid. What the heck are you doing? You’re not good enough to do that. You’re not living up to the standards you set for yourself and that is expected of you. So much is wrong with you.–As I realized what I had just spoken to myself, I felt absolutely sick to my stomach.
No one speaks to me as much as I speak to myself. If this is what the voice in my head is telling me then this is what I am believing about who I am. I have been emotionally abusing myself through the words I speak into my own heart and, I think, if you would take time to listen to what the voice inside your head is speaking into you, you would realize you have done the same harm to yourself.
I could list tons and tons of verses that talk about this in the Bible, but I will only pick a few :)…Truly read every word of the verse and let in sink in. These are popular verses that we can sometimes just skim because we think we know it. However, within these verses lie powerful truths. Let it hit you again as if you are reading it for the first time.
Philippians 4:8– “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Nothing about the things the voice in my head was telling me lined up with this verse. The words I spoke to myself were far from true as I am a daughter of a King and have infinite worth. My worth has absolutely nothing to do with my abilities or success and everything to do with who my Father is. If these were the words I told myself, how much would that change my mindset?
Proverbs 4:23– “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” The words I speak into my mind directly correlate with what I am letting into my heart. I am repeatedly breaking my own heart and telling myself I will never be good enough. What I put into my heart is what is going to come out in my life. The words that were swirling around in my head this week cause my heart to put out bitterness, anxiety, fear, and worthlessness. How am I supposed to be an image-bearer of Christ if this is the attitude I am putting forth because of the thoughts I allow myself to speak?
Romans 12:2– “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This is the reality. I need to be allowing the Word of God to permeate my mind and be constantly renewing my thoughts daily or they will never line up with the truths God tells me about myself. Your thoughts can be a deadly weapon for Satan to use against you. Don’t buy into his lies and give him control of your thoughts. Your thoughts affect your heart which affects your life. Do not conform to who the world says you are.
This is so far from easy and is a daily battle we must choose to actively engage in every day. Today, anytime the voice in my head tells me a lie, I battle it with the truth found in scripture. However, I cannot do this if I go through the motions and I am not actively paying attention to the words I tell myself. Start to listen, engage in the battle, and watch your life be transformed. For when you live your life knowing you are fully loved and you are worthy, nothing can take you down because no one can take that away from you.
With love and grace,
Olivia Mars
LiveGrace 