Regarding Calling to Mind…

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26, NIV)

At the end of an especially hard or difficult day, or after the world has beat you up or others made you feel worthless or disrespected, what do you tell yourself? Do you keep their messages going by meditating on and repeating the negativity or untruth to yourself or do you throw it out like trash and concentrate on what is true?

You might be surprised the number of people who continue repeating the negative, dehumanizing things they’ve heard or encountered all day; going over and over in their mind and heart, that which only makes them feel worse and without any value or worth.

The things we say to ourselves and let roll around in our brains, matter. Jesus said the Holy Spirit—our Advocate, whom God sends to us in Jesus’ name—will teach us all things and remind us of everything the Lord has said to us in his word. This is where it’s helpful to know what the Father and Son say and think about us. The world may say we are worthless, incapable, inept, unintelligent, unattractive, unforgiven, unloved, without hope, and not a child of the Most High God, but we should know the truth.

The messages we receive from the world and those forces of darkness with evil intent have conditioned us to see and think about ourselves negatively and hopelessly. If we rely on these, we will continue down paths that are false, misdirected and warped and will be held back, oppressed, suppressed, and feeling defeated, hopeless, and outside of the covenant that God has established with us from the beginning, through Abraham and at our own baptism.

As Jesus told his followers in John, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). When we know the truth about our value, identity, and the heart of the Father toward us we are free; that we are accepted, forgiven, loved immeasurably, unconditionally, and eternally. We are not locked in emotional or thought prison, we do not fall into the devil’s traps but walk and live freely, confidently and will not receive the untruths we hear as gospel truth in our lives. This is what God wants for us; these are the truths that help us sleep peacefully and live joyfully. Let’s Pray,

Lord, sometimes we hear many things that cause us to feel defeated, worthless, and without hope but you have told us differently. Fill us up on your truth so we are set free and can live in that freedom which also brings us joy and peace. Amen

Reflective Questions for Self and Soul-Tending:

What lies have you been led to believe that have come through others or the devil’s whispers? Have, or are you beginning to separate truth from fiction?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of self and soul-care?