I recently discovered an awesome online study of Jennifer Rothschild's latest book, Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself. This book addresses our thought life. So I am casting my lot with my friends at http://leliachealey.blogspot.com/ for "SAY YES TO GOD TUESDAYS" for the next ten weeks. Be sure to visit Lelia for more information. Grab a copy of this book. Each week's chapter is a very quick read. I promise you will be richly blessed.
In Chapter 1, Jennifer introduced the idea of the thought closet saying, "I seem to have a secret closet tucked somewhere in the hallways of my mind. A thought closet. And what I had been storing in that closet wasn't good at all: shelves and racks and bins full of hidden thoughts, secret insecurities, lies, illusions, and reminders of past failures" (p. 14). Sound familiar? It certainly did to me!
In Chapter 2, "Renewing Your Thought Closet," we begin our journey to right what is wrong with our internal conversations. No field of endeavor has yielded greater gains in my life than addressing my thought life. Regarding Satan, Christ warned, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Satan came shockingly close to ending my life by embedding his lies in my thought life. But I have been redeemed, primarily through the strategy Jennifer describes of replacing Satan's lies with God's Truth.
Every word of this chapter spoke to my thirsty heart. The passage that most made me want to shout AMEN was this: "We probably never completely erase old memories, forget old thoughts or wipe away former self talk. . . you can't remove those hurtful thoughts, words and memories, but by the power of God, you can drain them of their potential control over you" (p. 29, emphasis added).
Can I get a witness? The power of Satan's lies in my life was (and potentially still is) formidable. But just as God raised Christ from the dead, He longs to resurrect our thinking so we can bask in His love. Join me again next Tuesday as we consider Jennifer's strategy in Chapter 3 of Self Talk, Soul Talk, "Choosing Wise Words." And get this book!
May you feel His grace today,
Gail W.
The last Word:
I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10: 9, 10, NIV.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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12 comments:
Great insight Gail!! I too loved that part that wanted to shout Amen! So I'm Amen-ing with ya! :)
I added you to Mr. Linky. Send me your email address to chealey5@yahoo.com & I will walk you through how to do it.
Have a God blessed week!
Blessings,
Lelia
It is wonderous to be reunited with our God, we don't walk alone, He is bigger than any spoken words of man.
"by the power of God, you can drain them of their potential control over you"
I love this too -
Thank you for your encouraging post today.
Hi Gail,
Thank you for visiting my blog today. Thank you, too, for the encouraging remarks.
What you share on your post is so important. Many of us, yes even Christians, walk about this earth with unhealed emotional wounds... when Jesus died precisely to bring healing to us!
Friends and loved ones call me Lidj, short for Lidia. However, some of my blogger friends call me Maria, since most of them had read my introductory blog post which mentions the meanings of the three names that my parents gave me.
Again, what a joy "meeting" you has brought to my heart. May God touch your heart today in a fresh way.
One of the areas in which God has required a thorough purging of my mind is in the area of music and television. There are some real triggers that surface via certain types of songs and media. A few years ago, I began to purge my life of these things. I'm not legalistic in my approach, I simply know when my mind begins that curious stray toward dangerous ground.
So glad for his Spirit and conviction accordingly.
I understand this is a great book. I love Jennifer and hope to do the book sometime in the future. If you could only see the stack currently residing bedside...
peace~elaine
Elaine, one of my favorite advantages of the blogosphere is getting snippets from all the books and studies I would do if I didn't have to work, eat or sleep! I love cruising studies, guilt-free since I'm not "officially" participating:)
This is my first time to participate in a group study. I have enjoyed reading the posts, and have noticed a lot of us were drawn to what Jennifer said about not letting our negative thoughts have power over us. Your emphasis on through God's power is a comfort, because it's not a burden for us to do on our own.
Sue
Thank you so much for stopping by my page and leaving me such a heartfelt comment. I love your post and especially, "Regarding Satan, Christ warned, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44)". I am going to commit this verse to memory to use against the enemy when he attacks my thoughts. His grace has touched me through you, so thank you. Much love, Paula :-)
Thank you so much for your comment on my post. I have had some dark times this week... but God did a work... I don't know what song he was singing over me last night, but I woke, feeling better than i have in a long time (with only 6 hrs of sleep or less) and after dropping my son at school i stole about 45 min. at my "safe place" the coffee shop and had a good chat with God.
It made a complete difference with my whole day!
I mean, complete. i have been spending time with him, but briefly, each morning. It has been hard to spend extensive time, just because with 2 little kids, when do i do it? They usually beat me out of bed. I am not sure how to work this, but somehow I either have to beat them out of bed, or find a quiet spot (in this itty bitty house) to concentrate and not be distracted by them or what is going on around me! I need that time with Him to be focused for the day. Amazing what God and a good latte will do for your outlook on the day! :) I need to duplicate that at home! :)
Thank you for your prayers and kind comments. I hope to get a post up soon of what God has been doing.
God bless,
heather
Gail,
I'm so glad you joined our study, I enjoy reading your post. I love this at the end of your post. "Can I get a witness? The power of Satan's lies in my life was (and potentially still is) formidable. But just as God raised Christ from the dead, He longs to resurrect our thinking so we can bask in His love. Amen to that.
:)Carol
Hi Gail,
Thank you for popping by and as always with a drop of dew, refreshing to my spirit.
Satan is busy, really busy, feeding our thought lives, capitalizing on our traumatic experiences, never letting up. That is why we have to be aware that we are in a real battle and need our 'weaponry'-offensive and defensive.
That is why I am purposefully focusing on Scripture this year--to wash my mind with the truth and to arm my soul with the Sword of the Spirit. It's been a tough time lately and my desire is that God gives me joy and a new excitement for His Word.
Bless you.
Love, Sita
You are a wise one my friend.
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