What You Need to Know If There’s a Bully in Your Head
February is a wonderful month for remembering that we are loved. Unfortunately, life (and lies) can get in the way of that. Before we know it “less than loved” has wrangled its way into the driver’s seat.
Last week I confessed my issues with “less than” when it came to physical appearance. In the article, It’s Time to See Ourselves as Beautiful, we took lipstick and wrote truth on the mirror.
Today, I say we blow a horn in the ear of those dang voices we sometimes hear.
You know the ones I’m talking about. Those uninvited bullies that waltz into our brain and speak less than kind words about who we are and how God sees us.
Of course they are more subtle than that. I rarely here voices that say
“God is so disappointed with you.”
No, the sly dogs project their voices onto the people and circumstances that fill my everyday life.
Business tends to drown out their whisper during the day. It’s at night, or in some other pause that I hear them.
A dear friend of mine made a similar confession,
“I’m fine during the day. I’m confident in my work. I know what I’m doing. But at night, when I lay my head down it seems all I can hear is…
‘You’re not enough.’
Would you join me in a rallying cry that says———
No. More.
Last week we recognized that seeing ourselves as God does is a choice. The same is true of the voices we listen to.
When words that tear down, shame or reject us nose their way into our heads we need to drown them out with His words. I love this verse from Zephaniah,
”The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 {Emphasis mine.}
Did you hear that?
He is in our midst and He saves us.
He saves us from every harsh word or criticism we’ve ever experienced.
He saves us from the unkind words we speak to ourselves.
Right now, this very moment the God of the heavens is looking down and smiling over you and I.
He sings with delight over us!
Today my prayer for you and I is that His truth, His words, His song over us will be the loudest voice.
The bonus is that when His love speaks loudest in my life I’m able to handle criticism…even rejection. All because I hear Him first.
- His tender affirmation.
- His wise direction.
- His compassionate criticism.
If this is not your experience, if the voices in your head need a serious kick in the butt I’ve listed more scripture below.
”But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NIV
God is waiting for us to come home…arms wide open.
”And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 NIV
We were never meant to be held captive by shame.
”I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
Each one of us is a masterpiece handcrafted by Him.
Let’s immerse ourselves in the truth of these scriptures, rehearse His faithfulness to us and turn our ears to His voice.
And then sweet friend let’s———
Relish His song.
Savoring the journey with you,
Cindy
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Cindy Wilkins
Ok, I’m just going to lay it out on the floor……there’s something in me that is afraid to not listen to those voices. That if I let go and live in the truth I’m enough just as I am for God, I will relax and then wham! It will be clear that I’m not. I know intellectually how crazy this sounds but this gal’s heart and confidence have been broken many times. It is my greatest struggle! I’m so thankful that God doesn’t give up and that he puts others like YOU in my path to show me the way! Keep the wisdom coming, Cindy! It means more than you know, Cindy
Cindy
I love your transparency Cindy! God is SO gracious. I’ve struggled with confidence too. I’m in the middle of a study called Make Your Move by Lynn Cowell. She addresses confidence. It is blessing the socks off of me. I wonder if you would like it too?! Hugs!!
Kristine
Beautiful, Cindy! Oh yes, I know those voices all too well. Just when I think I’ve tuned them out for good, they sneak back, in that sly way they have. I love the verses you shared above! Reading them aloud brought a new sense of joy in my heart this morning. I will carry this through my week! Blessings, friend.<3
Cindy
I can’t tell the rumpled up recipe cards I’ve carried in jean pockets so I could quickly remind myself of truth when I knew I needed to hear it. Praying for you this week friend. Love you!
Elizabeth
I love this 😍