Can negative self-talk destroy your health? I believe it can.
My own battle with it started when I was 12. I told myself that I was fat, even though I wasn’t.
That negative inner dialogue created a new reality for me: I became obese and stayed that way for over 20 years.
But praise God, He gave me the victory over obesity – and delivered me from negative self-talk.
He can do the same for you!
Proverbs 17:22 says:
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”
If you are constantly reporting bad news to yourself like insulting yourself or thinking lies like “I’ll never change,” then you are depressing your spirit.
You are cooperating with the devil, who wants to steal, kill, and destroy. A depressed spirit shows that he is succeeding!
Cultivating habits that destroy your peace and health is another clue that you are believing the enemy’s lies. Wicked spirits are restless spirits. Proverbs 4:16 says:
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.”
The good news is that God’s word can deliver you from negative self-talk and the enemy’s schemes.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, you are given the battle plan for victory in this area: “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Not only do you have God’s word to defeat the enemy, but in designing your brain’s operation, God built in a fail-safe that you can exploit to your advantage: You cannot hold two thoughts in your mind at exactly the same time.
Your mind works on a queue system – it only lets one thought in at a time.
I’ll prove it to you:
- In your mind, start counting from 1 through 10.
- While you are counting in your mind, start speaking Psalm 23 aloud: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake..”
Did the counting in your head stop when you started speaking? Did it focus on Psalm 23 instead? Of course, it did!
Your thoughts must always stop to listen when you speak. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (see Romans 10:17).
So if you ever have difficulty meditating silently on God’s word to overcome negative self-talk, then speaking scriptures out loud will help you gain the victory.
Begin to think of your mind as kingdom territory, screening the thoughts that you allow to live there.
Here are 3 steps to getting delivered from negative self-talk:
1. Decide which thoughts you want in your mental kingdom. The Bible has already given clear guidance on this in Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
So to be clear, these are thoughts you are looking for:
- True
- Noble
- Just
- Pure
- Lovely
- Good report
- Virtue
- Praiseworthy
While you can’t help if negative self-talk passes through your mental kingdom temporarily, you can certainly decide if you want it living with you!
2. Start monitoring your thoughts to see if they match up with God’s truth.
For example, do you have thoughts like these:
- Nobody loves me
- Nothing ever works for me
- I can’t stand it
- There’s nothing I can do about it
- Is God really going to help me?
The thoughts above do not fit the criteria you are looking for in your kingdom. Why? Because they are lies!
I can dispute every single one with the Word of God. Can you?
The only way that you can recognize a lie from the truth is to make personal Bible study a regular part of your daily life.
If you struggle in this area, then meditating on the Bible must become a priority.
3. Replace the negative self-talk with God’s truth. Here are some examples. Speak each of the following truths out loud so that the lying thoughts must cease to hear God’s truth:
Lie: Nobody loves me
Truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”
Lie: Nothing ever works for me
Truth: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).”
Lie: I can’t stand it
Truth: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).”
Lie: There’s nothing I can do about it
Truth: “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)
Lie: Is God really going to help me?
Truth: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).’
To summarize, the only way you will be successful in defeating negative self-talk is to make Bible study your lifestyle so that you can recognize truth from lies.
Then, you will be able to renew your mind to God’s way of thinking, glorify Him in all your ways, and experience the freedom Christ died to give you – Spiritually, mentally, and physically!
Be blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. When it comes to weight loss, do you often know what you should do but have a hard time doing it? You are not alone! I struggled with this issue on my own weight loss journey, but I discovered that “Nothing is different until you think differently.”
In the Take Back Your Temple program, you will learn how to think differently through Biblical keys.You’ll discover how to win the Spiritual and mental battle that often causes the enemy to defeat us. You’ll get Spiritual insight so you can recognize His schemes and learn how to overcome them.
This is must-have information if you are tired of defeat and are ready to succeed permanently.
Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple program
God’s timing is perfect.
I am going through a really hard trial and have been in the depths of despair.
Your words and the scripture verses are like a healing balm to my soul. God’s Word is living and active.
May God bless you and your ministry!
Thank you, Martha – never forget that no matter how hard the trial is, our God is greater than that! You’ve got “giant-slaying” power within you through the power of the Holy Spirit. May you continue to renew your mind to this truth and walk accordingly.
I thank God for the anointing you carry to inspire, encourage, and speak the Truth in love. I thank God for each person who comes to this site to be healed, changed ,transformed and touched by the love of God through your ministry. I believe that each person who comes here is led by the Holy Spirit to receive the things they need.may this ministry continue to flourish as the Holy Spirit changes our Minds and transforms our Hearts and conforms our Spirits to the Word of God, the Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:58 ” therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Thank you, Sherry – I am agreeing with you in prayer! I pray multiplied blessings back to you as you intercede for others. Much love to you, Sister!
Thank you, I needed that, God bless you and Merry Christmas gorgeous girl.
Bless you! Kim
I have been having and out negative and the. Joy feelings.
Your message today spoke to my heart. God! does care and watches out for us. We do need to be in His Word More!
So! we have the spiritual weapons to come back at powers and principalities. “Praise! God! For our weapons of our warfare are not carnal! But! Mighty! And Powerful!
Thank you so much for the encouragement as it seems you’re always talking directly to me. I’m greatful for TBYT. You truly are a beacon of light in this dark world.
This is wonderful! Thanks so much, Kimberly!
That was the best article I have read on this topic ever. While all verses i knew were referenced here, they were all presented in a creative, need way. And there is nothing more inspiring than to finish an article
feeling both encouraged and empowered. God bless you!
It is well
Good read here. My challenge is with the “I can’t stand it” thoughts. I can’t stand when I have to put people in my life in character revealing situations. Mostly, I’m dissappointed in what I discover. A beleivers we are called to live a life that should make non-beleivers question their disbelief. Yet, time and time again, I’m reminded how much easier it is for christians to reach and act on incomplete and inaccurate information. Knowing that the world is watching frustrates me because I know that we could experience much more traction for the kingdom of God if focus more on “being the word” as opposed to preaching the word. The world is watching and their getting mixed signals. Just some thoughts from someone who is standing up for what is right, even when I’m standing alone. Blessings
Thank you and may God bless you for everything that you do for His people.
To God be the glory!
As I began my journey onbecoming stronger in my beliefs I sm forever greatful for these words to help me remove negative thoughts
Thank you, this was right on time for my wife and I!!!
The past two days had been full of these thoughts, brought on by a visit to the doctor. He spoke that I would be unable to change and I began to doubt everything I had read ( and was trying to believe) in scripture. I stayed in bed two days, didn’t read and couldn’t pray. It’s fear. Fear that God won’t hear or answer me. So many people have walked away from me who said they loved me. I want to love myself so badly. This is difficult for me. I’m off work with no income because of weight related hypertension. I need God to move now. We used to have good relationship but I started doubting because I didn’t see the move I thought should be. I want to get back there. You’re site is helping me. Thank you.