Do you ever talk to yourself? I plead guilty. I really don’t like to admit it because when I was young I remember my mom talking to herself, and I said that I would never do that. And, here I am, all grown up, and I find myself talking to myself. Sometimes I say good things to myself and sometimes I have some negative talk going on.
The truth is, when you talk to yourself you are speaking what your heart is thinking. Let’s put this thought to the test. Think of a time when you caught yourself mumbling something. It was about something that hurt you, something you don’t agree with, or something you are really excited about. It’s a feelings type of talk.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 4:4, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” The Sharon commentary, (that’s me), simply interprets this as saying, “Look up; stop thinking what you know is wrong; tell your heart what is right; and be still while God works.” Why is that so difficult for me to do?
It’s difficult because the heart is naturally deceitful. My heart wants me to believe things that are not exactly true. Your heart deceives you as well. The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Wow! Now, that’s just stating the fact.
So, what do we do?
1. Look up! The God of this universe knows you as if you are His only child. The same God who knows you sustains you. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He made you and He understands you. Stand in awe of who He is!
2. Do an inward examination. Get alone and have a self-talk with your own heart. When there is a difficulty with a friend, it is important to have a heart to heart talk so that forgiveness and restoration can occur. Deuteronomy 6:5 sets the standard for Who your heart should love and follow after: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
3. Determine not to give in to sin. Stop thinking what you know is wrong. Just stop it! You and I live by our feelings. Your feelings often mislead your heart and your heart drives you to sin. Psalm 4:4 says, “Sin not.”
4. Do not make excuses. Be still and wait on God. He will help you. He will give you the outcome that is best for you and for His glory. You must not make excuses for your sinful thoughts and actions.
5. Go forward by asking forgiveness for your heart disobedience. What you love in your heart you live out in your life. Second Timothy 2:22 reminds you to, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Have you had a heart to heart lately?
