Talking to Myself
How Self-Talk Settles my Heart
Remember the adage, “It’s okay to talk to yourself as long as you don’t answer yourself?” If I’m talking to myself, then am I technically answering myself? (Shoulder shrug.) I’ve discovered that my thoughts often resemble a playground of potential for life-changing schemes and grand ideas. That is, until, a dilemma, or better yet a worrisome diagnosis or fearful reality threatens.
As I write this, my ankle, twice its normal size, is packed in ice after a NASTY jogging glitch. I’m more of a walk for a while, then jog intervals to change it up. I guess it was the heat that bumped my playlist to “Chariots of Fire.” I rounded the corner and kept on jogging. As if in perfect sync with the hash-marks on the practice field, I set my gaze on…the… asphalt and braced for impact. (Girls, many of you will relate.) I shot straight up, trying to walk it off like nothing ever happened. As I hobbled the quarter-mile walk of shame to my car, I hid my ugly crying behind sunglasses and sweat--praying I’d make it, praying it wasn’t serious, praying no one noticed.
In all seriousness, I have learned to bless my body quickly, even with gushing tears like yesterday’s injury. I’m better about thanking God for healing in advance, too. I try to only share my struggles with those in my close circle of faith—the ones who will quickly agree in prayer versus freaking me out with horror stories or worst-case scenarios. In one of my favorite books, The Healing Light, Agnes Sanford explained that our bodies quickly respond to our reactions and audible exclamations.
Here’s a glimpse of my thought process when faced with pain and injury whether physical or mental. I see these scripture-questions as huge deterrents to jumping on the “Fear-is Wheel” of worry. It’s no longer my initial reflex to roll out a welcome mat for the worst to happen. I believe this is what renewing my mind looks like. Here are some of my go-to prompts:
1. Is there anything too hard for God? (Matt.19:26; Mark 9:23, 10:27)
2. Is Jesus at God’s right hand? (Mark 14:62; Col. 3:1; Heb. 12:2; Eph. 1:20)
3. Is He suffering from this? (Isaiah 53:4-5)
4. Settle it in your heart, and your head and health will follow. (Prov. 3:5-8 and 4:20-27)
I consider my responses and reactions to be seeds—thought seeds with great potential but not always immediate or visible growth. Using these prompts, I am convinced that healing is for me, and that I can trust God’s word to be true in whatever I’m facing.
Here’s an inspiring illustration: My sister’s friend, also named Amy, lived with a benign stomach tumor for many years. She reached that point of “Over it!”--tired of constant discomfort and questions about being pregnant. Raised in a family of great faith, Amy settled the truth of God’s promises and planted them like seeds deep in her heart. Through self-talk, she nurtured and watered her expectation of healing. For 30 days, she continued to renew her mind with what the Bible declares as truth for a tumor-free tummy. All this without seeing any evidence of healing or change in her body. Finally, it happened! Amy went to bed one night WITH a tumor and awoke the next morning without it—a completely normal and totally healed belly. The tumor was gone!
Our self-talk sparks growth—good growth when boosted by scripture. And, as disciples of Jesus, we have access to all that He said and accomplished. This includes healing for our body, soul, and spirit! So, what are you saying to yourself?
Reflection
In what ways are your words boosting an outcome of healing? Or hindering progress?
How can you adjust what you say about yourself or a situation that you’re currently facing?
What do you need to settle in your heart before moving any further?
Goals
Borrow three of the verses from my prompts to add to your own personal dialogue
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)
“Be attentive to me words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
(Proverbs 4:20-27 ESV)