Changing Our Self Talk Sue Bohlin sueprobe org

Changing Our Self. Talk Sue Bohlin sue@probe. org suebohlin. com

Changing Our Self-Talk § Self talk: the old, destructive tapes that run in our heads § Where do they come from? l l Parents Classmates Shaping forces of the media What we tell ourselves

Changing Our Self-Talk § Not psycho-babble § “As a man thinks within his heart, so is he. ” Prov. 23: 7 § Spiritual warfare l l Satan is the accuser of the brethren Lies and schemes

Changing Our Self-Talk § What to do: § Identify your tapes. “Lord, show me where I’m being deceived. ” § Stop the tape player in your head. § Replace the lies with the truth from the Word. • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind –Rom. 12: 2 • Biblical change: put off/put on -- Eph. 4: 22 -24

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am a failure. I can’t do anything right. ” § Phil. 4: 13 -- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. § Gal. 2: 20 -Christ lives in me; I trust Him

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am unloved. ” “You are precious and honored in My sight, and I love you. ” --Isaiah 43: 4

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth § I don’t have that “My parents’ problems were kind of power. my fault. ” § Each one bears his own load – l “I am responsible for Gal. 6: 5 my parents (or § Ezek. 18 – Each one is my children’s) responsible for happiness. ” l his own choices

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I was not wanted. ” § There is no such thing as an unwanted child from God’s perspective. § Isaiah 49: 1 § Jeremiah 1: 4

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “If I mess up, that would be the end of the world. I have to be perfect. ” § Only God is perfect § He has promised to hold my hand when I stumble. l l Psalm 18: 35 Psalm 73: 23

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “If I don’t do things right I can be abandoned. ” § Heb. 13: 5 -God will never leave me.

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “The sexual abuse I experienced was my fault. ” § 3 x in Song of Solomon: “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. ” § Hebrew word for incest is “confusion. ”

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “If people really knew who I am or what I did they wouldn’t like me. ” § Every single person is a messed-up sinner who desperately needs Jesus as much as I do. § Jesus became my sin on the cross, and exchanged my sin for His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5: 21)

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I’m nobody special. ” § Ps. 139: 14 -- I am fearfully and wonderfully made. § Gen. 1: 26 -- I am made in God’s image, and that makes me infinitely valuable. § Eph. 2: 10 -- I am God’s masterpiece, His workmanship--His

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth § Zeph. 3: 17 – He will take great in me, He “God doesn’t delight will quiet me with like me, let His love, He will rejoice over me alone love with singing. § Is. 43: 4 –I am me. ” precious and honored in His sight, and He loves me.

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “God will speak and do things for others, but not for me. ” § John 10: 27 – My sheep hear My voice § Acts 10: 34 – God is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t play favorites. § Eph. 6: 9 – There is no partiality

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I just cannot resist temptation —it’s too hard. ” § 1 Cor. 10: 13 -God is faithful to provide a way of escape. § Eph. 2: 6 -- I am seated in the heavenlies. What a great place from which to let Jesus battle my temptations!

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “Because I have _____ , or because _____ happened to me, I am § Eph. 1: 6 -- I am accepted in the Beloved. § Rom. 14: 3 -- The Father has accepted me. § Rom. 15: 7 -- Christ has accepted me. § Not only am I accepted AND acceptable, but God delights to use the very thing I am

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am such a disappointm ent to God, to my family, and to myself. ” § I cannot disappoint a God who knows everything and has no expectations about me. § I can accept myself as a work in progress, accepted and love by God. § Jesus was a disappointment to His family too, because of unrealistic expectations.

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am damaged goods--I have scars. ” § My scars are trophies of God’s grace! § Jacob’s limp § We will worship Jesus’ scars in heaven. Scars will be beautiful in heaven!

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “Everybody has to approve of me. It’s essential that everyone § God’s approval is all that matters, and He approves of me. He not only loves me, He LIKES me! § Jesus wasn’t liked and approved of by everybody--and

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am not good enough. ” § My adequacy is from God. § “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our adequacy comes from God. ” 2 Cor. 2: 5

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I am ugly. ” § 1 Pet. 2: 4 – I can adorn myself with a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in God’s sight. § Ps. 45: 11 – The King is enthralled by your beauty.

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “I’m too old to change. ” 2 Cor. 4: 16 -God is renewing me on the inside, day by day.

Lies/Misbeliefs Truth “This pain will never go away. I will be hounded forever. ” I have a finite number of tears inside me, which God is collecting in a bottle as I cry. (Ps. 56: 8)