Week 7: Willpower part 2- Biblical self-talk

By Alyssa Cheung

Last week we discussed the importance of self-talk. This week’s devotional will focus on exactly how one can improve one’s self-talk, moreso how to adopt a biblical self-talk. In thinking about biblical self-talk, I am reminded of David in Psalm 42. In verse 5, David is reflecting on why his soul is downcast and disturbed, but he pours his hope in God and tells his soul to praise Him. We see again in Psalm 103 that David is commanding his soul, all of his inmost being, to praise God and not forget His benefits. To list a few, David writes that God forgives all sins, heals all diseases, redeems life from the pit, and provides love and compassion. David’s list continues throughout the entire chapter of all the good that God provides and reiterates over and over to praise the Lord. What I love about this chapter is that David begins and ends it the same way, “Praise the Lord, my soul”. This is what biblical self-talk is about, a self-controlled conversation within the soul that wills it to praise God in even the darkest times; to focus on the glory of God when all we want to do is self-talk ourselves deeper into anguish. Colossians 3:2 states “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” while Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Therefore, when you find yourself, your mind, wandering into the spiral of negative self-talk, refocus your thinking to biblical self-talk and focus your mind on the wonders and glory of God. 

Psalm 103:8-12 
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do (and self-talk), do all to the glory of God.