Choosing The Right Mental Tapes

Choosing the Right Mental Tapes

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

Unlike Cassie, Margo didn’t like challenges and felt as if she were drowning in her job. Her negative self-talk didn’t help the situation. She’d mutter, “I’ll never figure out this computer program. What made me think I could ever do this?”

She played those mental tapes so much she finally convinced herself she had no option other than to quit.

We may think, How sad. Maybe we even wonder why she didn’t talk to her supervisor about more training or why she didn’t take a computer class at the community college. From the perspective of observers, of course, that seems logical. But don’t we tend to play similar mental tapes when we’re facing an emotional mountain? Perhaps we’re still replaying memories of a drunken parent’s lament over having produced us, or perhaps we’re recalling a former teacher’s critical assessment of our skills.

It’s hard to erase those old tapes, even though we know they paralyze us emotionally and cripple us with defeatist attitudes. But what if we were to replace those old negative messages with encouraging thoughts? Consider these examples:

• This, too, shall pass.
• God didn’t bring me this far to leave me alone.
• With God’s help, I can do this.

A little mental encouragement might make a big difference.

—SANDRA

Lord, help me to hear your loving, encouraging voice as I face new challenges. Help me to stop berating my lack of ability and be open—even excited—about learning new things.

Every time we beat ourselves up, we’re helping the Enemy.

—SANDRA P. ALDRICH