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Key Bible Verse: A broken spirit saps a person's strength. (Proverbs 17:22) Dig Deeper: Exodus 4:1-17

As you work on speaking faith-filled and encouraging words to others, don't forget about yourself. Self-talk is the term used to describe the words you say to yourself or about yourself that others rarely hear.

I'm convinced that many people are limiting their futures with toxic self-talk. For example, you might find yourself thinking things like this: "I'm so exhausted. I don't think I can survive this week. My job is killing me. I'm not that good anyway. I'll probably just screw things up." In some ways, negative self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I encourage you to constantly speak life-giving words to yourself and to your circumstances.

When you are tempted to say, "I have way too much to do," stop and replace it with truth. "I am equipped and gifted by God, readily pre-pared to do everything God wants me to do." When you feel like you are just average or worse, call that what it is: trash. Tell yourself, "I am the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for me to do." If you feel too bad for God to use, remind yourself of the truth: "I am a new creation in Christ. The old has gone. The new has come."

—Craig Groeschel in Soul Detox

My Response: What does my self-talk "sound" like? Is it encouraging or discouraging?

Thought to Apply: If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.—Peace Pilgrim (peace activist)

Adapted from Soul Detox (Zondervan, 2012) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.

Copyright © 2012 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, make me aware of the things I say from day to day; help me to use my words to build others up.

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