Talking to Yourself

Okay so this blog is really becoming a bit more serious than I expected...  But hey, this is my introspective life at the moment (when I get a chance to actually think!). 

Reading a book the other day (John Piper's "When I Don't Desire God") and read this quote that really struck me:

"Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?... Self, listen for a moment; I will speak to you." 

- Martin Lloyd Jones

 

I found this incredibly profound and pertinent for my life currently.  It challenged me b/c I realized that for most of my day, I'm listening to myself.  "I feel tired. I want to lay on the couch. I'm not a good mom, my kid is watching tv - again.   I need more friends, why does no one like me?  No one from home has contacted me in awhile, they must have forgotten that I exist. I should be a better Christian - where is my Bible again?  My house is not clean, I'm not a good wife."  And on and on and on and on.  Honestly, these are the thoughts that run through my head all day long.  And I let them.  They sit there, unchallenged. 

 

Now, I am not a proponent at all of "stuffing" or disregarding emotions.  I believe emotions are really important and tell us significant things about the state of our hearts and souls.  I think they're worth pursuing, sharing and taking note of.  But that doesn't mean that these feelings have to run our lives.  And in fact, I think our thoughts and often feelings too need to be challenged/confronted with truth.  Truth about our identity.  About love and other people.  And if you're a believer, about who Christ is and what He has done and what that means.  A huge percentage of the day - well, if you're me at least - is spent "taking in"/listening to either myself or to the world.  From tv, people around me, advertisements, etc.  That input really really needs to be balanced out by a healthy dose of perspective.  See, I believe that the spiritual realm is real.  That often what God is doing behind the scenes is even more real than what we can see with our frail human eyes.  And I need CONSTANT reminders of those spiritual truths, of what is true and real and what I can plant my feet and my hope on.  Without it, I am just a little dingy tossed about on the crazy ocean waves of feelings and human thoughts.

 

Self - listen for a moment; I will speak to you...