Let this book of the law be ever on your lips and in your thoughts day and night, so that you may keep with care everything in it; then a blessing will be on all your way, and you will do well. Jos 1:8
I believe myself the most.
Whatever I read, whatever I say, in an argument, I tend to defend it, and my counterpart needs good arguments to make me change my opinion. Still. After all those years of learning to listen and to trust, I still believe myself the most.
I learned also that reading something to me aloud, letting me hear it in addition to seeing it, builds my believe.
Not a surprise, as the bible already tells us that
So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Rom 10:17
Thus, if it were possible for this post to be turned into a podcast – I would love if the people listening would hear it in their own voice.
Technically, we are not quite there yet – apart from the lady that lent her voice to Siri, maybe. Thus, the next best thing to do is to write – for you to read and, maybe, read it out loud to yourself.
God has done that. He gave us his bible to read it, and read it out loud. Try it. Read those truths of the bible out loud to yourself, and see yourself change.
Maybe you have troubles accepting your looks – and yes, more and more even guys have that problem. Try this:
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. Ps 139:14
At first, you might think you are lying. There are two things you have to know:
OK, there are parts of you that by your own faults do not resemble the work of God any longer. But then, you are a new creation, and those parts are not the true you any longer.
About all other parts, if God made them, and you think it’s a lie that they are beautiful, then God is a liar himself, as his word tells you otherwise. But the bible also tells you that God does not lie, as he is not a man, and therefore you must be wrong.
Speaking this verse over you is but making yourself believe the truth. And as you believe yourself the most, you will slowly grow to believe it. Repeat it to yourself as often as possible, until that truth has become a fact in your life. Then move on to the next obstacle standing in your way to know yourself.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1Pe 2:24
I am dead to sin and live in righteousness. And I am healed.
Even with temptation all around, even when I fall from time to time – I have been set free, set apart for a cause, and I do not have to sin any longer.
Even if my whole body aches, cancer threatens me, I am the healed. There is no sickness in the new creation, as all evil has no entry. My body just does not believe it yet. So I tell him.
Next.
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Phi 4:13
With the help of Jesus as the head and other Christians as the body – the anointed one – I can do all things. Just keep in mind: You can do all things, but not all things are good for you. Wisdom. Some things you ought never do, even though you could. Sin is such a thing. Others you do when God tells you to: walk on water. Again others, whenever there is a chance: serve one another.
Don’t use that verse as an excuse, but as an encouragement. You are well able.
Now, honestly: did you read this out loud?
If not, that’s not a problem. Start with a much more important piece of writing. Start with the bible.
Will you?