Whenever you find yourself in the middle of suffering or some difficult situations, who or what do you listen to the most?”

I don’t know how you answer that question but for me I tend to read and listen to Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, J. I. Packer and so on.

The moment I stop reading or listening to these men of God, my soul, if I let it, it starts to talk to me saying:

“I don’t think I will see good days ever again! I am sure this situation continues forever! What if this dark cloud hangs over me 24/7 for the rest of my life? What if God doesn’t hear my prayers? What if God forgets me? What if – – – ”

You get the drift!

After listening to all these “downers,” I can’t even lift one of my fingers let alone carrying my whole body up from my bed to get something done. I won’t have any desire to do anything and I won’t enjoy to do anything even the very thing I enjoyed doing yesterday.

What does that sound like?

Bravo!

Depression or anxiety, or both!

Notice: Who am I listening to?

I am listening to myself, to my soul.

Who is listening?

Me!

Hmm!

So what is the solution? What does the word of God teach us about this issue?

Scriptures teach us to fill ourselves up with the word of God all the time (“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” Colossians 3:16aESV); Scriptures also teach us to always pray without ceasing so we receive mercy from God and grace that helps us in times of need (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 4:16).

Why?

So we speak those truths of God back to our soul in times of need. This is called “self-talk.”

Listen how King David talks to his soul:

“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.” Psalm 46:5-6ESV

Our soul [flesh] usually works together with the devil and preaches to us all the “what ifs.” If we quietly listen to them, as Peter began to sink the moment he took his eyes off Jesus, we too will sink in the sea of sadness, hopelessness and despair.

So, let’s get busy talking to our soul according to the word of God. While we do that, guess who runs for his life? You guessed it! The devil (Matthew 4)!

What is this called?

Killing two birds with one stone!

But if we have “no stone” to kill any bird, how can we fight and win any spiritual battle? ///