Daily Delight
I have always struggled with controlling my thoughts and negative self-talk. I am a perfectionist, and when I mess up, I am so hard on myself. The condemning thoughts start pouring in: "You're not good enough. You'll mess it up. You'll let everyone down. You can't do this." These are frequent lies, yet sadly, I listen anyway. Sometimes it gets so bad, I end up talking myself out of things due to insecurity or fear.
For example, when I applied to be a writer for Daughter of Delight, as soon as I decided to apply, those negative thoughts started, and I found myself discouraged. That is not where God wants me, or any of us, to be. God, of course, immediately started flooding me with encouragement that this would turn out well—and here I am. All those negative thoughts were just the enemy trying to discourage me from writing.
Our thoughts have the potential to become things we either vocalize or even do, so we must guard our hearts (Prov. 4:23, NIV) and take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5, ESV). Matthew 15:18 states: "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person" (ESV). So take my example: had I listened to those thoughts and not applied to be a writer, I would have missed out on this great opportunity to share my struggles and faith with others.
So, what are we to do when the negative thoughts start to roll in? We should bring our thoughts to God and make sure what we are thinking is actually true and from the Lord. Philippians 4:8 is a great litmus test for this: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (ESV).
Next time we find ourselves struggling with this, break out the Bible and remind ourselves of the truth.
Alexis Newlin
Alexis is a 34 year old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, rollercoasters and adventures. Originally from Marietta GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA where she works as a recreation therapist at Valley Children's. Alexis enjoys teaching and encouraging kids that they can do and be anything they want, despite their disability.
When not at work, you can find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip. Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and a cancer diagnosis. Through her trials and triumphs, God has pushed her to share her faith and encourage others through her writing. Writing is something she is passionate about and it is a joy for her to share her walk with God and encourage others.