I talk to myself all the time.
Yup, sure do.
Me, myself, and I have meaningful discussions daily. The internal dialogue isn’t audible (There’s nothing at all wrong with talking to yourself aloud!), my silent introspective discourse serves me well.
This is the way I sort through my thoughts, ideas and emotions. I get in touch with my feelings and really pay attention to how I’m doing mentally and spiritually.
I think everyone needs to take a little time for personal assessment, particularly when you find yourself in a bit of a funk, feeling low, discouraged, sad, anxious, or a combination of all these things.
That’s why one of my favorite “get-in-touch-with-me” scriptures is found in Psalm 43:5 NIV. In this passage, David talked to himself about how he was feeling.
Here’s what he said: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
He literally asked himself, “What’s wrong with me?”
Have you ever done that?
David had lost his joy and peace momentarily, but then, by talking to himself, he came up with the answer to his quandary. “Put your hope in God,” he self-admonished. And then, he commanded himself to praise.
Praise is the anecdote for the blues. I promise you it its. When you begin thinking about the greatness of the God you serve and how nothing is too hard for Him, sorrow is replaced with rejoicing.
I know there are seasons when we go through difficulties that can really drag our spirits down if we let them. But the key is to remember, we don’t have to let them. Just like David, you and I have to command our souls to hope in God and praise Him in the midst of it all!
This, my friend, is the same David that “encouraged himself in the Lord” in 1 Samuel 30:6 when he and his army returned to Ziklag from battle and found that the enemy had taken their children, all their possessions, and burned the village to the ground.
That's something to cry about! Nevertheless, David found hope and consolation in God. And we can too.
To remind you to talk to yourself and to always command a praise to come forth, I’m stirring Psalm 103:1 into your cup of inspiration. It says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup of inspiration, the next time
you feel weighted down, instead of waddling in the mire of despair, I pray that you’ll speak over yourself and
declare Psalm 34;1 that says, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
As God is glorified, the attempt of the enemy to rob you of your joy and peace is nullified.
Now let’s pray.
God, when life’s troublesome storms invade my life, help me not to allow the intensity of the attack to steal my praise. Please remind me always that as I rejoice in the midst of it all, I am empowered to go through, because, according to Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is my strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.