Thursday, March 6, 2014

Combatting The Negative Voice In Your Head

Hey Friend,

Well, the wedding and the honeymoon are over and my new husband and I have set upon the task of feathering our nest...aka moving his stuff in.  Translated, that means moving, lifting and unpacking boxes.  I began the task weeks ago with the vigor of a twenty year old.  Unfortunately my 50+ year old back caught up with me.  Long story short, I wound up in bed literally unable to move without being in intense pain.  The pain only continued to get worse until finally in an act of desperation I sought the help of a physical therapist.  (Thank God for those in this profession!). 

One day, however, I stood in the shower with the hot water running over my sore back and the enemy, as he does so well, began to kick me when I was down.  The negative stream of consciousness in my head ran something like this:

"Your husband sure got the short end of the stick.  He's had to do the lion's share of the moving and unpacking while you've laid in bed.  If you weren't old and out of shape this wouldn't have happened.  You are not a worthy helpmate for your new husband who loves you...and why should he love you?  You are not worthy or pretty.  In fact you are useless and not very pretty and you're overweight.  If only you looked better and were a better wife.  And what do you do...you don't even work.  You are a homemaker who doesn't keep a very good home.  You call yourself a writer...you are a dime a dozen.  Anyone could do what you do and do a better job at it.  Just who do you think you are anyway?  You tell people about walking the Christian walk and you are a poor excuse for a Christian.  God is certainly disappointed in you........."

On it went until I was in tears.  What do we do with these thoughts when they come streaming into our brain?

Step 1:  Determine whose voice you are really hearing

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come that they might have life and have it to the full (abundantly)."  (John 10:10)

If the voice you are hearing is filled with negativity and criticism it is NOT the voice of God.  Satan, the enemy, wants nothing more than to tear us down, destroy our confidence and render us useless in God's Kingdom.  If the voice is critical and condemning it is the voice of the enemy.  God uses only those words that build us up and grow us in His love.  His correction is never harsh or cutting.  It gently turns us in another direction. 

We need to measure the negative talk through the filter of God's truth.

Does what we're hearing in our head match up with the truth found in scripture?  One litmus verse I use is Romans 8:1:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The truth is that a condemning voice is not from God!

Step 2:  Take captive every thought

When that negative voice comes a yammering (and it will), God promises to rescue us if we will take those thoughts captive and bring them to Him.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Negative thinking is a mere pretension...a lie in the face of the knowledge of what God says about us.  I literally picture myself dropping a net over the negative thought, wrapping it up and carrying it to Christ's feet where I drop it and ask him to take it from me. 

God gives us the power and authority, through His son, to kick the enemy to the curb.

In Christ's name I can tell the "creep" to GET LOST!!!!

Step 3:  Replace the negative thought (lie) with God's truth

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.  (Philippians 4:8)

Psalm 139 is a great psalm to meditate on whenever the enemy is attacking your self worth.  I keep an "emergency kit" of scriptures that speak to God's truth about me for whenever the enemy begins to push my "hot buttons" of self doubt.  Reading those helps me refocus on the truth about me.

Sometimes I will put on worship music because it is hard for the enemy to drag us down when we are worshipping the awesome God who created us.

"Worship is an act of War against the enemy of our hearts."  (Holley Gerth) 

I'll leave you with two images (can you tell I am a visual learner) that help me to do what I need to do when the enemy comes a calling.

I picture the enemy on the other side of my front door.  He's knocking and trying to push his way in, but in God's power I need to slam the door on the enemy before he can even get a foot in the door.

This one is from my mom.  She used to say, "If you let the camel get his nose under the tent, before you know it, he's all the way in."  Anchor your tents friends...thanks mom.

Seriously though, the battle with negative thinking can be a fierce one.  But, remember, greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.  Call on the Lord to fight this battle.  He wants to fight for us...we just need to ask.

May God's great love for you bless you abundantly today...

In His love,

Bev

14 comments:

  1. Oh, that enemy...he really is a "creep." It's time for him to get lost! I'm telling him for both of us just so the message is LOUD and CLEAR! Enough!!!! I always love how you fill us with scripture. Such goodness. You've been in my prayers. Let's try to plan a time to catch up over the phone soon.
    Love you much. (((hugs)))
    Beth

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    1. Beth,
      A good counselor/friend of mine in Illinois used to refer to the enemy as "the creep". I thought the name was fitting. Yes, my friend, by the power in Jesus' name he is out of here! Amen! Let's concentrate on only the good stuff. I'll email you to find a time when we can talk. Miss and love you!
      ((Hugs)),
      Bev

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  2. This must have been the week that enemy was working OVERtime! I too have had horrible, terrible, negative thoughts swirling around my head and depriving me of hours of sleep. Ugh! Let's pray OVERtime and I will repeat those wonderful verses you gave us above to combat those thoughts! Love you, Bev!

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    1. Lisa,
      Yes, he's been working on us both...but our God is bigger still! You are so sweet and caring...you are not only my sister in Christ...you are my sister and it kills me to see the enemy land any blows upon you! Let's claim God's marvelous promises together. Praying for you!! Love you back, Bev

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  3. Oh Bev,
    Goosebumps over my arms and my legs. Your words touched me as always.
    I wanna shout to you: "Don't believe in the enemy! No other woman could be a better wife to your husband because God has chosen you to be the RIGHT one! And don't believe so silly things. You encourage me every week."
    And then I'm looking at me. Self-critic is what I'm doing over and over again. Last year I left school and finished my education. This year I'm forgetting something again and the enemy constantly reminds me how bad I am. And last year I have made so much faults with guys. I didn't loose my virginity but I was too close to them to do the right things. And the enemy is saying: " You wanna be a disciple? You will NEVER be a joy for the Lord! And you will never marry a man until you go the right way. And how will you be a wise and godly mum for your children? You will never reach this point!"

    This morning I took my father's car to drive to the doctor and while the sun slowly rised, tears filled my eyes. Have you ever heard "With Him I Can" (Mercy River)?
    This wonderful song has healed my many wounds.

    Bev, I really love you, dear sister.
    (((Hugs))) and blessings to you!! ♡
    Yours,
    Sonja

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    1. Sonja,
      I checked out "With Him I Can" (Mercy River)...what a beautiful and captivating song. I can see why it has been such an inspiration to you! Music so often is a balm to our hurting souls.

      You are so encouraging to me to not listen to the enemy's voice, but yet you are so hard on yourself. We are always more gracious with others in their struggles and quick to be hard on ourselves. I encourage you to slam the door on all those lies. That's what they are - pure LIES! You have a beautiful heart and are so encouraging and you are fighting the good fight in Christ's strength. You are ALWAYS a joy for the Lord...He rejoices over you with singing.
      Praying for you my dear sister! Always good to hear from you!
      With love, blessings and ((hugs)),
      Bev

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  4. What a powerful post girl! Keep fighting and keep inspiring us all.

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    1. Karla,
      What a joy to hear from you! We ALL need to keep fighting and calling on the Lord to kick the enemy to the curb! Thanks, as always, for your encouragement! How ARE you?
      With prayers and ((hugs)),
      Bev

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  5. Hey Bev. Saw you on Emily's post and can relate as an empty-nester, blogging, post-op woman standing in grace. Cause the days hard! But this community of women sharing helps! Glad to find your blog!

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    1. Welcome...and I love your blog name! So glad to hear there are some of us "mature" gals out there sharing our life lessons and standing shoulder to shoulder in God's abundant grace! So glad you stopped by!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  6. Bev, I saw you on Emily's post and wanted to get to know you better. I too am an empty nester, a grandmother, have back pain that puts me down so I have to look up, and write a blog for an audience of One. Peggy

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    1. Hi Peggy,
      I can relate on all fronts except that I am not quite yet a grandmother, but think it will be wonderful to be one! I see from your blog you have weathered many trials and have a real testimony to share! It is so good to meet others through (in)courage - we need that sense of community. Please know you are ALWAYS welcome here!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. Yes! Yes to identifying the voice, taking thoughts captive, and replacing the lies with the truth. I love how honestly you assess yourself here, with us! And the fact that God replaces sorrow with joy, is a testament to the hope knowing Him brings. So so good.

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    1. Thanks Missy (love your blog play on your name!!). God has challenged me to be more vulnerable in my writing because there are so many out there dealing with similar struggles. Though the lies may be strong...as you point out, nothing is as strong as the hope that comes in knowing Him!! Thanks for the encouragement!
      Blessings to you,
      Bev

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