We Need to Exchange Unhealthy Self-Talk with Healthy Soul-Talk

Aug 23

Aug 23 We Need to Exchange Unhealthy Self-Talk with Healthy Soul-Talk

Devos and Studies, Psalms Devos_Studies, God's Word

Unhealthy Self Talk

Have you ever talked to your soul? You do more than you may realize. We all do. Today, we refer to this as self-talk. But too often, our self-talk is not healthy for our mental and emotional well-being. In fact, it may grieve our souls.

How can we correct unhealthy self-talk? Our perspective needs to change. Much of our self-talk centers around ourselves. You might say, “Thanks for pointing this out, Captain Obvious.” But think about it. We are not the center of the universe. None of us are God.

In many ways, our relationship with our parents impacts how we relate to God as our Father. God understood this when He gave Moses the fifth of the 10 Commandments—honor your father and mother.

This can be a hindrance or a help, but it depends on the nature of our relationship with our father and mother. We tend to view God through the lens of our experiences and memories of growing up.

When this is negative or difficult, it skews our perception of God. When it's positive and affirming, we may have difficulty understanding God's sovereignty. If our parents abandoned us as children or we had absentee parents, God probably seems distant and unapproachable.

We can overcome all of this by correcting our view of who God is and of His redemptive love. King David understood how to do this, as seen in Psalm 103.

Scripture

By David.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to praise your name, O Most High.
It is good to announce your mercy in the morning and your faithfulness in the evening on a ten-stringed instrument and a harp and with a melody on a lyre.
You made me find joy in what you have done, O Lord. I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands.
How spectacular are your works, O Lord! How very deep are your thoughts! [vss 1-5]
The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are oppressed.
He let Moses know his ways. He let the Israelites know the things he had done.
The Lord is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.
He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry with us forever.
He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs [vss 6-10]
(Psalm 103:1-10 GW) [Context– Psalm 103]

Psalm 103

Reflections and Insights

My first sense of psalms that began with "bless the Lord, oh my soul" confounded me. Was this just self-help psychobabble or efforts at self-talk? Aren't people who carry on conversations with themselves losing a grasp on reality?

As I delved deeper into the Psalms and witnessed the prayerful battles and jubilant praises of David, I gradually gained a better understanding. David understood his relationship with God. Not only was it based on a personal trust (faith) in God, it was spiritual in nature.

David's exhortations to himself went much deeper than mental self-talk or cognitive reasoning. He spoke to his inner spiritual nature—his inner self. We can call it soul-talk.

The first half of Psalm 103 provides great insight into King David’s soul-talk to himself. He expands on these insights further in the rest of this psalm. Consider how David speaks to his soul.

David begins with an exhortation to praise the Lord from the deepest recesses of his soul. He reminds himself of all the Lord did in his life. He gets more specific about this as he goes on.

The Lord is the One who forgives, heals, rescues, and blesses us with His favor, so we might be more like the Lord reflecting His nature. The Lord is just and cares for those who are oppressed. Why? Because the Lord is compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive. David also reminds himself, and us, of how merciful the Lord is.

David reminded himself of his spiritual yet experiential encounters with God. He dialogued with God from his innermost being. This is the nature of genuine faith in a personal relationship with God! Remember and remind yourself, as David did—

The Lord is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.

Reflection—

Do you ever remind yourself how God has helped you and blessed you in your life? It's a good practice to take time each day to review how the Lord has blessed you, helped you, and shown you His loving kindness.

Prayer Focus—

When you find yourself feeling distant from God, ask Him to remind you when He came to your rescue, restored you, forgave you, and made Himself known to you. Ask the Lord to give you a more accurate perspective of who He is and of His nearness than what you may be feeling.

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