Speak Life

Self-Love

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

I was having a rough time. That’s not unusual. It happens to everyone on occasion. What was unusual, though, was that in this moment of weakness, I found myself thinking and speaking things about myself that were not indicative of who I am in Christ.

As I spoke with a close friend, lamenting about my woes, it was like God turned up an internal speaker, and I really HEARD myself. My friend commented that he saw a change in my expression as a steeliness came over me, and (he said) I developed a little glint in my eye. He asked, “What just happened?” I replied, “I just came back to myself. I just remembered who I am and Whose I am.”

Life can be hard. Jesus told us that it would be in John 16:33, and most of us have experienced it at one point or another. In those moments of struggle, it is so easy to give in and believe the voice of the enemy that whispers to our weakness, “Give up,” “You can’t do it,” “It’s too hard,” “You’re not good enough…strong enough.” And then we may find ourselves thinking, and sometimes even saying these things about ourselves: “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m not attractive enough,” “I don’t deserve love,” “I’m not qualified for that job,” “I’ll never achieve my dream.”

Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinketh so he is. Our thoughts and words have power! “Life and death lie in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21). If we speak something over ourselves and our lives enough times (even in jest), in time, we begin to internalize those messages. So, why not say something positive? Hey, my mom always taught me, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all–even about yourself! (Ephesians 4:29). 😉

Instead of buying into the words of the enemy—of fear and self-doubt—speak LIFE over your situation, your health, your job, your relationships, your finances! Claim your victory and embrace God’s promises! Speak LIFE, and not death, and watch your thoughts and words lift your spirit and create an atmosphere for God to move in a mighty way.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Additional Scriptures:

Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Matthews 12:37 – “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

John 16:33 –  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Photo 1: Obtained from https://sarasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/the-power-of-words/

Photo 2: Obtained from https://steemit.com/etymology/@cryptogee/changing-the-mind-with-the-power-of-words

Revisiting Rest

Psalm 55:6 – “I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.’”

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

I was reading a devotional this morning by Curtis Zackary titled, “Soul Rest,” and in it, he referenced the notion of “staving off the idol of productivity.” That one blew my mind for a second. The “idol of productivity”?? I had never considered the possibility that productivity could be an idol; and the more that I reflected on the notion, the more convicted I felt.

I admit, I am one of those people who often feels guilty when I’m not being productive. I mean, there’s just SO MUCH TO DO! My list is miles long (I don’t remember the last time I saw the end of it), and I admit that I often feel that time resting and doing absolutely nothing equates to time wasted that could be better used checking off my “to dos.”

My husband is really great about lovingly calling me on that little flaw, taking whatever I’m working on out of my hands, and leading me to a space where I can truly rest, rejuvenate, and remember that God has got this; the world really will not end if I take a break. In fact, I am learning (and often have to remind myself) that when I take these moments of rest, I often return to the task refreshed and better prepared to operate more effectively and efficiently. The alternative, of course, is going until I burn out and getting to a place where I do not accomplish anything with excellence.

Do you ever find yourself in a similar quandary—your mind and body begging for a break while your To Do List “glares” at you accusingly? I promise you that it’s okay, and oftentimes even imperative, to take a moment for yourself. It may be a quick 2-minute reprieve to do a deep breathing exercise, a 15-minute tea break, an hour-long walk in the park, or a 6-month sabbatical or world tour. Your break should take whatever form best suits your life and your needs. Just make sure that you take it. You, your work, your responsibilities, and your loved ones will be better off for it in the long run.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Additional Scriptures:

Mark 6:31 – “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

Psalm 127:2 – “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Photo 1: Obtained from https://www.booksie.com/491690-rest

Photo 2: Obtained from http://www.xeeok.com/desk_big_259606_1.html

Photo 3: Obtained from http://openwalls.com/image?id=29753

SELF-LOVE

Be the example…❤️

Nobody’s Perfect

SELF-LOVE

Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”

What do you think about yourself? What words do you speak about yourself? Are they positive and uplifting, or do you have a tendency to dwell on all of the ways that you fall short of perfection? I was reminded today of our tendency to focus more on our shortcomings, our mistakes, our areas of weaknesses, than we do on our God-given strengths and talents. It’s not that we need to become boastful, touting our every attribute at the top of our lungs; but it is okay to see ourselves as God see us—perfectly flawed…beautifully and wonderfully made—and to acknowledge the gifts that He has bestowed upon us.

Dwelling on our shortcomings is a slippery slope that can easily lead to lowered self-esteem and a distorted self-view, and it is a very easy way to become discouraged and find ourselves in a pattern of negative thinking. Nobody’s perfect, and I’m sure that few of us would find it difficult to uncover that first string of self-doubt to pick at and pull, until eventually, we unravel our healthy view of ourselves. There are too many people in this world who will be quick to judge you and point out your flaws; don’t add your own name to the list!

In 2018, let’s strive to love ourselves as God loves us—unconditionally—acknowledging and learning from our errors, but then moving past them with the understanding that while we are fallible human beings, we are also beautiful, loved children of God, and He doesn’t make mistakes. His works are wonderful, we know that full well…and you are one of His most amazing creations!

SHINE YOUR LIGHT!

On another note…HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know I’m a bit late, but I wish you all a prosperous, adventurous, fulfilling, and fruitful year that is filled with all of the love, joy, and peace that your heart can hold!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Love Thyself

LOVE

Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”

Valentine’s Day and the month of February have come and gone, and throughout the month, there were numerous conversations about romantic (eros), brotherly (philos), and godly (agape) love; but I realized this morning that sometimes, we overlook one of the most important loves of all—love of self! Far too often, we neglect this valuable step—loving ourselves—which I think is actually second only to loving God in the Love Process. The first step in this process, always, is experiencing God’s love—receiving His adoration of you with your full heart and understanding that His love for you is unending and without measure. When we accept this love, internalize it, and start to see ourselves through God’s loving eyes—flawed, but fearfully and wonderfully made—we begin to see ourselves differently and position ourselves to experience the phenomenon of self-love…of seeing ourselves for who we really are—children of a loving God—and accepting ourselves (the good and the bad) as we continue this journey of learning and growing and evolving into the people that God created us to be.

There are so many voices around us—from images in the media to toxic people that we may have allowed into our inner circle—telling us that we’re not good enough and causing us to doubt ourselves, deride ourselves, fall out of love with ourselves…And when we don’t love ourselves, it becomes so much harder to engage in loving relationships with anyone outside of ourselves. It is only when we remember who and WHOSE we are that we can block out the negative voices and find peace in knowing and loving ourselves for who we are.

The other danger is one of simple neglect. I see so many people in ministry and giving professions (myself included) who become burnt out and exhausted because they devote so much of themselves to others that they neglect taking care of themselves until they become broken down or ill because their hearts, minds, and bodies just can’t take it anymore. So many of us place such a primary focus on loving and serving the people around us, that we forget that loving and caring for ourselves actually equips us to better care for the people in our lives. The Word says to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). It’s one of the great commandments given to us by Jesus Himself; and it implies that we must learn to love ourselves first before we can apply that same level of love to the other people in our lives.

So, as we continue to prioritize loving God, loving our family, and loving our neighbor each day, let’s be intentional about showing ourselves a little love—consider treating yourself to a quiet, restful night at home; a day out at the spa; or a little time engaging in that beloved hobby that used to bring you such joy! When you take the time to take care of and love yourself, you refill your tank and are better prepared to then go about the business of loving and serving others.

Make it a point to take care of yourself today and every day!

Shine your light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Who You Are is Enough