Day 5

Do you ever stop and think about what you are saying to yourself? We all talk to ourselves, whether we realize it or not. These conversations we hold within our own minds can profoundly impact our well-being, either positively or negatively.

Your relationship with Jesus should form the foundation of positive self-talk. In order for that to happen, though, you have to be intentional about listening to yourself and aligning your inner conversation with what God says rather than with what the world around you says. David understood this. He wrote, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Understanding your identity in Jesus is paramount to this alignment. Your identity cannot be tied to your actions; instead, it must be firmly anchored in Christ. You cannot earn God’s approval. It is a Gift bestowed through Jesus. In Him, you are a New Creation, liberated from past sins, welcomed into God’s Family, and empowered by His Grace. You don’t need to earn anything or prove anything. You don’t have to seek external validation or engage in negative self-talk rooted in insecurity.

During your fifteen minutes alone with God each morning, practice reframing your inner dialogue to match what God says about you. Find your sufficiency in Him. Let His acceptance of you be all you need to accept yourself.

Changing your self-talk is part of what Romans 12:2 means when it says, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Some Bible translations use the word “renewing” here. Renewing your mind plays a pivotal role in nurturing positive self-talk. As you replace the lies of negativity with God’s revealed Truth, your self-talk will become more positive and more accurate.

This renewal of your mind occurs through prayer, reading Scripture, and spending time in God’s Presence. This should be a primary focus on your first fifteen minutes with God. By aligning your heart with His through surrender, you cleanse your mind of negative self-talk. The Holy Spirit will help you recognize and promptly capture negative thoughts that have crept in through exposure to external influences, including what you listen to, watch, and engage with on social media, as well as the company you keep and the lifestyle you follow.

Spend a few moments letting God renew your mind this morning. Take stock of your self-talk and let the Holy Spirit align your inner dialogue with His Perspective of you.

Questions for Reflection

1. Does your self-talk tend to be more negative or positive? What impact does it have on your well-being?
2. What areas do you tend to struggle with the most when it comes to your self-talk and self-perspective? How could you replace negative statements with positive ones?
3. How do things such as prayer, reading Scripture, and spending time in God’s Presence help renew your mind?