Stinking Thinking: How to Break Free from Your Own Worst Critic
Most of us spend our days listening to a voice in our head that rarely has anything kind to say. That voice nitpicks our appearance, questions our abilities, and quietly whispers that we'll never be enough. You're not alone if you're exhausted by the constant barrage of self-doubt. The average person has about 6,000 thoughts running through their mind every day, and nearly three-quarters of those are negative. It's no wonder many of us live anxious, tired, and burdened.
But there is hope. God doesn't leave us trapped with our inner critic. Today, we're talking about the biblical way out of what I call "stinking thinking." We'll look at David's story, especially the moments behind Psalm 23. Imagine him: abandoned, hiding in caves, hunted by those he once trusted. Yet, instead of replaying his pain, David zeros in on the goodness of his Shepherd. He doesn't mention his problems, only God's steady love and care.
David's secret wasn't just stubborn optimism or mental grit. He practiced "word power," taking God's truth and speaking it out loud until it changed the atmosphere inside him. Joshua 1:8 lays out the process: keep God's Word on your lips, chew on it all day and night, and live by it. This isn't sitting around thinking positive thoughts; it's an active fight. It means stopping those negative thoughts in their tracks and replacing them with what God says.
In this episode, I want to help you do what David did. Not by pretending your pain isn't real but by learning how to anchor your thoughts to the truth of God's character and promises. Our minds are built to meditate—they're always chewing on something. You get to decide whether that's fear, shame, or the steady kindness of the Shepherd who never leaves your side.
Here's what we're covering today:
Tomorrow, we'll continue talking through some simple, honest ways to trade those old, toxic thoughts for the truth God speaks over you. But for now, hear this—being stuck isn't your destiny. No matter how long you've been fighting these battles in your mind, God's Word can bring real change on the inside.
You're not alone if you're worn out from fighting these thoughts. We'll face this together, step by step.
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