Episode #33 Does the Enemy Live Rent Free in Your Head?- Know Who You’re Listening To

So, we all know there's power in our words. Scripture says that the power of life and death are in the tongue, that it's important that we focus our attention on the truth that we store up good things in our hearts so that they will cascade from our mouths. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And what we're talking about today is one of the practical ways that we can harness the power of our words by paying attention to the voices that we're listening to and being able to recognize and change our minds when we're giving too much weight to the wrong voices.

One of the ways that I see this in my own life and in the lives of other people that I know and love, is that we can repeat over ourselves, death-as critical words or judgmental words or harsh words that speak contrary even to what scripture would say about who we are or who God is and his care for us.

But sometimes those words don't feel so much like overt death. They just don't give super amazing life. There are conversations that I can still remember from 10 years ago, that were hurtful, but it's harder for me to remember conversations from 10 years ago that were encouraging, uplifting, or helpful.

Part of the reason for that is, yes, painful words can stick in our hearts, but I found that I will repeat those words over myself. I will remember them and wonder if other people feel the same way. I'll rehash them and try and figure out what I could have done differently or better, or maybe I'll be hurt in a similar way, and I just add to those negative words speaking hurt over my life.

Sometimes I will take a lie that the enemy has said about me or an accusation that he's hurled at me, and I will repeat it over myself so many times that it begins to sound like it originated with me. Those attacks against my identity or my character sound like my voice because I have repeated them so often that they become familiar. And they sound like words that belong instead of words that are to be cast out because they were thrown in by the enemy of my soul.

I wonder if you can relate to any of this, and if you can, I'm so glad you're here because this is a really practical way that we can turn the power of our words into a tool to help us talk more with God on a regular, everyday basis. Today I'm reading Psalm 19:1-4, 7-14. And I encourage you to pay attention to how it describes the power of our words and the continual refrain and repetition of words, of truth and of praise, and of what God would have resounding in our minds and our hearts.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day, pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

So, this psalm is about the law of the Lord and the beauty that comes in all of these different ways when we heed and hear the word of God. It reminds me of the opportunity that we have day in and day out to hear the words that the Lord would speak over us. To be reminded of the instruction and the insight and the encouragement that comes from the voice of God. That we could be like His creation in nature, continually repeating his words, continually resounding with his worship and his praise.

And I love how it ends in verse 14 "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." The things that I sit and think on, that I dwell on, and spend time contemplating, let that meditation be pleasing to you, God, and let the words of my mouth be the same.

And so our question for God today reiterates this, and we're going to ask him to give each of us unique and specific insight into what he would want our meditation and our speech to be full of today. So, here's our question:

God, what's something that you would like on repeat in my heart, my mind, or even coming out of my mouth?

If you have questions about what he tells you, continue to talk with him about it and seek to apply whatever he tells you. Maybe it's as simple as writing a reminder in your phone or putting a sticky note up in your car or on your bathroom mirror. I'm excited for you to experience the power of these words, the words that God would draw your attention to in your day today.

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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