Talking to yourself

I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this: that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self.

Am I trying to be delibrately paradoxical? Far from it. This is the very essence of wisdom in this matter. Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?

Martyn Lloyd-Jones - "Spiritual Depression"

Today, I listened to a message by C.J. Mahaney on this same subject.

This is applicable not only to those in spiritual depression but anytime I choose to believe myself over what is in the Word of God. There are many times when my experience and subjective view on life are held above what God says. It makes me cringe to own up to that but it's the truth. Putting it so bluntly helps to reveal it for what it really is. Pride, self trust, self confidence, all summed up in one word - sin. It is so easy to turn subjectivity into the standard rather than the objective truth of the Word but when we do, it is self exalting itself over what God says.

Positively, turning to the Word lifts us up out of ourselves and we can behold what God has done in Christ. Wouldn't I rather look at Jesus than myself? Wouldn't I rather behold His beauty, His atoning sacrifice, His merits instead of my sinfulness, my lack, my failure?

There have been times when I have felt ovewhelmed and felt that God was very distant. There have been times when I have chosen to wallow and indulge myself in self-pity. But, by grace, there have been times when I have talked the truth to myself of Jesus Christ and His work and the truth does set one free.