Alpha Devotional

Word to the wise: Stop listening to yourself and instead start talking to yourself

we do too much listening to ourselves and not enough talking to ourselves

There is an internal narrative that is always on

it is an internal commentary that is constantly running

right now for some of you it is saying “I hope this devotional doesn’t last too long,

how am I going to pay all of my bills

I hope the brothers receive my presentation well

my wife and kids are about to drive me crazy

the problem with this internal narrative/running commentary . . . the weakness of listening to yourself is that it is driven by emotions, circumstances, and situation and so it leaves you at the mercy of your emotions, circumstances, and situation

and since the Bible teaches that life is full of trouble, most of the time you hear things like

this situation is too difficult

I can’t take it

I can’t do it

I can’t bear it any longer

I’m about to go crazy

I feel like I am going to lose it

And when this is what we listen to, we find ourselves responding, making decisions, and putting forth effort based on this negative commentary

That’s why we need to talk to ourselves Let our spirit take control of the narrative a spirit that is rooted in the truth of God

in the Bible, in first Samuel, a leader named David was in a difficult place, he was about to be killed by the very people he was supposed to lead

The Bible says he went off by himself and and encouraged himself in the Lord . . . in other words he talked to himself

in the lord means that he talked to himself based on Who God is and who God called him to be

When you talk to yourself instead of just listening to yourself, you start hearing a new narrative/faith filled narrative: Nothing is too hard for go

nothing is impossible with God

I am an overcomer

I am more than conqueror

I am beloved by God

all things will work together for my good

What God called me to do, he will perfect and finish it

that’s the type of internal narrative that will take you where you are supposed to go . . .

so even in your thought life, especially in your thought life . . . be intentional

don’t listen to yourself, talk to yourself

Pray