Talk to Yourself

 

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm‬ ‭42‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

‭‭ This verse appears twice in Psalm 42, in verses 5 and 11, and again in Psalm 43:5. This made me wonder who wrote this Psalm must have been going through some challenging times.

Have you ever felt this way or asked yourself similar questions? Why am I feeling “cast down”? Why is my soul in “turmoil within me”?

Perhaps it’s because of an offhand remark that you took personally. How did those comments make you feel? Small, inferior, inadequate, not good enough? The list could go on.

But why are you listening to the negative voices instead of the truth the Spirit is trying to convey to you? Don’t let your emotions or feelings overpower you.

Instead of letting yourself speak to you, why not turn the tables and speak to yourself?

Isn’t that what the Psalmist did in Psalm 42?

They were likely growing weary of the struggle. But instead of succumbing to negativity, they spoke words of truth to their soul, lifted themselves up, and reassured themselves by remembering God and His faithfulness. They placed their hope in Him.

Then there’s Psalm 103:1-5, where David addresses his own soul. Perhaps he was facing a difficult time, such as when Saul sought to kill him or when Absalom attempted to seize the kingdom. The Bible doesn’t explicitly state this, but regardless, David was encouraging himself, reminding himself of God’s numerous blessings.

Oh, how I adore Psalm 103! It has always been a source of encouragement for me. Whenever I feel discouraged, like giving up or walking away, this Psalm lifts me up, reminds me of God’s unwavering love and faithfulness, and strengthens me to persevere.

Jeremiah‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬(ESV‬‬) says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”

Let God’s word be the “food” that nourishes and sustains you during difficult times. His word is a source of joy and delight for our hearts. Let His word encourage you when you feel discouraged, calm you when you feel stressed, and strengthen you when you feel weak. Let God be the one who fills you when you feel empty.

May we always turn to Him first!

When we speak to ourselves like David in Psalm 103 or the Psalmist in Psalm 42 and place our hope in God, we can remember His many blessings.

We, like the Psalmist in Psalm 9:1(NIV), can express our gratitude to God with all our hearts and recount all His wondrous deeds.

Let us give thanks to the Lord with our whole heart, not half-heartedly or because we have to or to check something off our to-do list, but genuinely express our gratitude for all He has done for us and for all He has seen us through.

Let us give thanks with our entire being, encompassing all aspects of our lives, including our strengths and weaknesses, our ups and downs, our good and bad experiences.

Let us recount all His wonderful deeds.

It is so beneficial to remember God’s faithfulness and reflect on how He has worked in our lives, both in the past and present. And by sharing these stories with others, we can offer them hope and give glory to God.

So instead of dwelling on hurtful comments or negative feelings, give them over to the Lord.

Choose instead to dwell in the “shadow of the Almighty”(Psalm 91:1).

Remember that “The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.“(Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

When you feel exhausted, lift your gaze! Strengthen your resolve by recalling God’s unwavering faithfulness. He will guide you through this challenging time!

Speak to yourself with kindness and encouragement.

And let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!(Colossians 3:16)