What gospel do you preach to yourself?

Every day you preach to yourself some kind of gospel – a false “I can’t do this” gospel or the true, “I have all I need in Christ” gospel. 

I’ve been thinking about this lately as I go through my day, talking to myself in my struggles, and hearing and seeing other people in this world; sadly, a world filled with a lot of lost, discouraged and defeated people. I understand this from people who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, but my heart breaks that there are so many people who call themselves Christians, who say they believe in Jesus and that He is their Lord and Savior, but yet fall into the same trap and are living life defeated instead of victorious.

Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for us to live in victory; crucified, buried and resurrected, HE defeated sin and death and was raised in power and victory. We who believe, should be living in that same resurrection power and victory, yet far too often we are not. We let the lies of the enemy, the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy, fill our minds and our hearts with untruths, instead of focusing and standing on the truth of God’s Word and then, we speak those untruths back to ourselves.

No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do. It’s a fact that you and I are in an endless conversation with ourselves…we never stop talking to ourselves. In this inner discussion, we’re always talking about God, life, others, and ourselves, and the things we say to ourselves are very important because they are formative of the things we desire, choose, say, and do. What have you been saying to you? What have you been saying to you, about yourself? What have you been saying to you about God? What have you been saying to you about life, meaning, and purpose, right and wrong, true and false, and good and bad?

In Psalm 42, we are invited to eavesdrop on a man’s private preaching…like us, the psalmist was preaching some kind of gospel to himself.

We either preach to ourselves a gospel of aloneness, poverty, and inability or the true gospel of God’s presence, power, and constant provision.

You are preaching to yourself a gospel that produces fear and timidity or one that propels you with courage and hope.

You are preaching to yourself of a God who is distant, passive and uncaring or of a God who is near, caring, loving and active.

You are always preaching to yourself a gospel that causes you to rest in his wisdom or a gospel that produces a bit of panic because it seems as if there are no answers to be found.

Today when it feels as if no one understands, what gospel will you preach to you?

As you face physical sickness, the loss of a job, or the disloyalty of a friend, what message will you bring to you?

When you are tempted to give way to despondency or fear, what will you say to you?

When life seems hard and unfair, what gospel will you preach to you?

When parenting or your marriage seems difficult and overwhelming, what will you share with you?

When your dreams elude your grasp, what will you say to you?

When you face a disease that you thought you’d never face, what gospel will you preach to you?

It really is true—no one talks to you more than you do. So, God in His grace, has given you His Word, so that you may preach to yourself what is true in those moments when the only one talking to you is you.

When you are tempted to “preach” a gospel to yourself that is filled with lies from the enemy, take some time to reflect on some of the scriptures below and then begin to “preach” to yourself the truth of these scriptures!

Some truths to think about. This is what God says about you:

1. I am beloved – Eph, 3:17b-19

2. I am a masterpiece – Eph. 2:10, Ps. 139:13-14

3. I am chosen – Eph.1:4, Ps. 139:16, Jer. 1:5, 1 Pet. 2:9

4. I am holy (set apart) -Eph. 1:4, Col. 1:21-22

5. I am forgiven – Eph. 1:7, Col. 2:13-15

6. I am a new creation – 2 Cor. 5:17

7. I am redeemed – Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:13-14

8. I am a child of the King – Eph.1:4b-6, 1 John 3:1

9. I am an heir of God – Eph.1:13-14, Rom. 8:16-17, Matt.25:34, Titus 3:7

Did you notice how many times scriptures from the book of Ephesians are mentioned here…In just the first chapter of Ephesians, in verses 4 through 14, here’s what God has done for you:

HE Has: Chosen You – V4

Adopted You – V5

Accepted You – V6

Redeemed You – V7

Forgiven You – V7

Revealed HIS will to You – V9

Made You an inheritance – V11

Sealed You – V13

Given You an earnest downpayment to guarantee your redemption – V14

These truths are the gospel you should be preaching to yourself. Read Psalm 42 again and see how the psalmist’s “preaching” to himself changes, when his focus is on God instead of himself or his circumstances.

Something to think about it. Stop and listen to yourself and then ask yourself which gospel are you preaching to yourself?

1 Cor. 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:7 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the VICTORY that has overcome the world-our faith.

Let’s stop walking in defeat and discouragement and instead walk in the power and victory that is ours in Christ Jesus.

Let’s start changing those conversations we have with ourselves to reflect God’s truths instead of Satan’s lies.

-Debbie Dorman