Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Have you ever let the negative words someone called you keep repeating in your mind? Maybe it was a situation or issue you encounter that reminds you of the comment that said it would happen? How about that toxic post or the comments that get way out of hand and are extremely hurtful?
Our personal world can take a negative turn at any time, and the effects can linger long after the situation is resolved. Much of this has to do with the words that we hear and, in many cases, not let go. The echoes from minutes, days, or even years ago can haunt us over and over again.
Sometimes the more we try to discount or dismiss the feelings that come along, the harder it is to let them go. Our minds can even find the most obscure hurtful moment in our lives that has no bearing on our present day and use it to derail what we are concentrating on now. That time as a child when we were embarrassed or made fun of.
Thise type of memories that linger can be the most hurtful and distracting but have nothing to do with who we are today and what we are doing. In many cases, the others who are involved in the situation do not remember what you did or maybe even not at all. We can let things play out in our minds over and over again like a record that is skipping.
No matter the timeframe or the words that keep repeating in this negative way, we need to resolve whatever confidence issue we have. Many of us may not consider this a confidence issue, but too often it does boil down to what we believe.
Think of the hurtful words that were said. Now consider if you actually believe them. If you don’t really know who you are, then the second step can open the door for disaster that can destroy our self-worth, self-confidence, and self-respect.
This is why we need to step back from all that self-defeating behavior to stop ourselves from sliding further away from who we really are or can be. It does come down to how we view ourselves and how secure we are in our beliefs. But it is more than just what we believe in, many of us may have difficulty even outlining what those beliefs are.
So, begin there. Think about what you believe in. Not just about yourself, but your family, your community, and also your world. We need to feel secure in these beliefs before we can use this to destroy any of the words that cause doubt in our lives.
I spent many years of my life letting others dictate the confidence I had in those beliefs. As you may have experienced yourself, your confidence can be similar to a rollercoaster ride. It was not until I allowed the Lord back into my life that the loops disappeared and the hills got smaller.
I had to look at those voices and words that I was listening to and how they aligned with what the Lord says. I had to remember that I was a child of God and only He can help me define who I am as in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
I have to believe this first. He guides my steps, my plans, and helps to filter the words that I am bombarded with or try to resurface. I should not be letting them distract or inhibit me. As in the opening scripture, the words I should be listening to are from God and His word. This will build up my faith in Him and in myself.
This is how we move forward, this is how we grow, and this is how we especially rewrite all those negative patterns to change our future. We need to be our own editor and change the words that we let define us and that we truly believe about ourselves. If we do not, then we allow outside forces to do it for us.
In 1 John 4:1 we find good advice, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” We need to test those stray thoughts and comments in a spiritual light. We have to discern if they are the truth and whether they are coming from God or man.
Most of the time we will find that they are not only from man but can also be inspired by other forces that lurk in the shadows. We see these forces at work in the world every day. They detract, tear down, and in some cases destroy lives. We have to be more cognizant of these facts because we do not want to continue to be one of the victims.
Psalms 1:1 adds an interesting perspective, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” What better way to change our path is to not be on another’s path or even sit in their seat. They can act as they wish and say what they want, but it does not mean we have to go along with them or believe what they are saying.
Words are a powerful force in this world, and we have to harness them for ourselves. If we speak, we should speak life. If we repeat any words, then they should be the ones that are true. So, take a stand. No more words that distract us from our purpose, no more words that create chaos in our lives, and no more words that try to destroy the blessings that God has given us.
PRAY FOR MY GUIDANCE TO BE HEARD
There are those words that always haunt me every day,
They keep repeating in my mind and won’t go away.
The mumblings and comments made by others over the years,
Did nothing to build confidence and only kindled the fears.
Always leaving me feeling beaten down and destroyed,
Pushing me over the edge like a speeding truck I cannot avoid.
It seems that on the daily things can change faster than I can blink,
Lord, why do I let my worth be derived from what others think?
My child, you are spending too much time fighting within your mind,
All the chaos is covering the simple truths that should be easy to find.
Don’t doubt you are my perfect creation, in my image you are made,
Others cannot change this or the plans for you I have laid.
My Loving arms surround you and can protect you from the world,
You should not listen to others voices, just let your journey unfurl.
Walk with me into the future and continue to be led by my word,
Ask me for whatever you need and Pray For My Guidance To Be Heard.
Simple Faith Christian
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