Mornings can be difficult. Some days begin with the feeling that the problems of the day are too much, the challenges too difficult, the work to hard. It seems that you just can’t do it all again. How do find the strength to do it all one more time?
The late pastor and Bible teacher D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gave an eloquent answer to this problem in his book “Spiritual Depression.” He wrote that we need “to not let our selves speak to us but instead we need to speak to ourselves.”
Out of personal brokenness and fallen nature come negative thoughts and emotions that can drag us down. If we listen to these thoughts, we can find ourselves struggling with depression and discouragement.
The solution? Talk back to ourselves! We need to question and challenge these negative emotions with truth. As I have been "blessed" with anxiety disorder there are many mornings when I need to do this. Here are some of the truths that I speak to my self and that help me get through each day-
- God has gotten you through every other day, He will get you through today.
- It's not about what people think, it's about what God thinks and He knows your heart.
- You do not need to fear failure, God knows your weaknesses and loves you anyway
- God will give you the strength to do what you need to do when you need to do it.
- This life is not all there is, your hope is eternal
-God judges you based not on your failures or successes but by Christ's sacrifice, so there is no need for fear
I say words like these, take a few deep breaths and then tell myself, “Okay, let’s do this.” And somehow, with help of God, I do, one day at a time.
- Bart
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