Stop listening to yourself. Start talking to yourself.

Yes, I know it has been a long time since my last post. So, let me apologize now and then move on. Sorry. Ok, so life has been up and down here lately for me. Happy. Sad. Worried. Confused. Excited. It's been an emotional roller coaster. And "NO" I am not pregnant. I am just going through some growing pains. At least this is what I am going to call it. I think that you are never too old to experience growing pains. Life changes as you get older and you have to learn how to change as well and cope with things. It doesn't stop after your teenage years and I don't believe it stops after you go over the hill and turn 50. I believe that life is constantly changing and sometimes we have to learn how to adapt to our lives as things change and constantly work harder to become the best that we can be. Now, am I good at this? Well that is a good question. I am learning that being a grown-up, and getting older, is not the easiest thing in life. It’s a great experience and the ride is nice, full of adventure. It’s just that I have a lot to learn in life and I still haven't quite fit into my big girl pants yet. I still have some room to grow before they fit perfectly. But I am learning. I just need to try harder and work harder to be the best that I can be. And strive hard to be the woman that God has created to me. So, with all of that said. Here is a quote that I came across today and wanted to share with you.

Quote by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

“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? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says, “Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.”

I heard about this quote while watching a sermon by John Piper tonight. He was using it as an example in his sermon about how we need to start preaching to ourselves more. I realized that I am a person that listens to myself way too much. Especially about missing the US and missing my family and how things are difficult here and this and that and more. No wonder sometimes my life is like a roller coaster ride. I need to stop listening to myself and start preaching to myself and say "Hey self, today is going to be a good day." or "Self, I know you miss your family but you will see them soon." I think this is something that we all need to do more in life. I know that for me, if I did this I would probably have less days of crying and more days of smiling.

Another thing that would help is to start listening more to what God has to say, than listening to ourselves. Memorizing scriptures and saying them out loud to ourselves every day.  Making time for Him every day, rather than making time to watch our favorite TV show. Praying more and listening more to the Holy Spirit, rather than praying real fast every day and not sitting still to wait and hear what He has to say. I can't tell you how many sermons that I have heard over the past few months that have all been about how we need to pray more. Pray. Pray. Pray. This is so important and I think it is something that we don't make enough time for. I know I don't.

Ok, I think I better stop here before I get on another topic and start writing like crazy. But throughout this next week, join me in my challenge. Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself. Pray more. Memorize scripture. Have hope and fight the good fight.

P.S. A great new song that I heard is "Good Fight" by Unspoken. I am going to post a video with the lyrics on the side of my blog under my profile picture. Take time to listen to this encouraging song. May God bless you and be with you.