The second source of communication: The Language of Self

Just as God’s Word speaks to us, there must also be the word that we speak to ourselves.

Listen to what Oswald Chambers shares in My Utmost for His Highest --

"There are certain things we must not pray about – moods for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never to submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won’t. The Christian life is one if incarnate spiritual pluck.  Unless we train our emotions they will lead us around by the nose, and we will be captives to every passing impulse or reaction. But once faith is trained to control the emotions and knows how to lean resolutely against weaknesses of character, another entry-way of doubt is sealed shut forever. Much of our distress as Christians comes not because of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature.”

Martin Lloyd-Jones says something along the same lines --

“The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand. You have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. The essence of this matter is to understand that this self of ours, this other man within us, has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid him; exhort him; encourage him; remind him of what you know instead of placidly listening to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you.”

 Well, I guess the question is -- can we find someone in the Bible who shared some similar thoughts?

I guess Paul and David might be two characters that would help us understand this truth.

Paul -- "For my part, I run with a clear goal before me; I am like a boxer who does not beat the air; I bruise my own body and make it know its master" - 1Corinthians 9:26, 27

David -- "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you" - Psalm 116:7

In another place Paul wants to see us speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as an encouragement and influence to others - surely the same must apply to ourselves - making melody in our hearts to the Lord is an encouraging word to ourselves!