It feels like lightyears ago but you might remember the premillennial tape recorders. You know -the ones that we used to record the Top Ten directly from radio onto tape!They were often black with chunky oblong buttons-labelled play, stop, fast forward, record,rewind & replay.
In life, I wish I could rewind to good times & fast forward the bad chapters But , in reality, there are no fast forward or rewind buttons.
However, every day,we can replay over & over & over again (ad infinitum) Whatever has been recorded on our mind’s hard drive can be replayed, with ease in our (un)quiet minds!
Our inner voice can whisper, or shout various lyrics:
You can’t
You’re worthless/useless
I can’t believe you did/said that
You’re a lousy mother/wife/Christian/_______
(Fill in the blank & choose an option depending on what area you feel like you’re failing at this particular moment in time)
We may replay:
Conversations we had
Conversations we will never have
Conversations we wish we could have
We can replay:
Anxious thoughts
About what might happen
About what might never happen!
Even worst case scenarios.
Over & over & over again!
We can replay the ‘good ol’ days’ of yesteryear.
Often inaccurate memories replayed can leave us stranded by nostalgia.
Christian Psychologist Paul Tripp states:
‘No-one is more influential in your life than you are, because no-one else talks to you more’
But,
‘Don’t believe what you think- you cannot be trusted to tell yourself the truth’
‘How much more interesting would our lives be if we lived the story we knew to be true rather than engaging in an imaginary story where paranoia crowds out the truth.’
(Al Andrews via Storyline blog)
To stop this destructive replaying,we need more than a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), we need to plant the truth of God’s Word within our hearts.
‘Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!’ (John 8:32)
In a world that grasps relative truth, our God is the voice of truth I believe the Bible is timeless truth from Ultimate Source of truth -for every child of God.
If we immerse ourselves in this truth, it will free us from the anxiety of endless replaying. This truth will calm the tossing & turning of the storm within & without & allow halcyon days to return
We need to remind ourselves of this truth & write not just notes to self but memos to our souls!
‘You are made to move in grace—
not to be held in place by fear.’
(Holley Gerry)
‘The words your mind think —
become the house your heart lives in.’
(Ann Voskamp)
The truth from God can renew your minds (Romans 12:2) Indeed, Jesus’ blood has cleansed our consciences ‘that we can serve the living God.’ (Hebrew 9:14)
Jesus said:
‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]’ (John 16:33 AMP)
Rather than replay, we need to remind:
Remind ourselves of truth rather than replay lies.
Remind ourselves of God’s Words rather than replay deeply hurting words from others.
Remind ourselves of God’s voice rather than replaying our own inner voice.
Remind ourselves of blessings rather than replaying potential difficulties.
To be able to remind ourselves of God’s truth, we need to be deeply aware of it! We need discipline to read & study it.
The last time I had the opportunity attend a Precepts Bible Study, we studied I Peter together.
So many treasures of truth to hold on to are contained in chapter 1 alone:
*We have an inheritance that cannot fade- kept in heaven for us(v4)
*We can rejoice though distressed by trials (v6)
*We have a faith more precious than gold though refined by fire (v7)
*Though we haven’t seen God, we can love Him, believe in Him & rejoice in Him (v8)
*We can prepare our minds for action & fix our hope on Jesus (v13)
*We are called to be holy like our Heavenly Father (v15)
*We are redeemed by His precious blood(v18)
*We are born again of the Living Word of God (v23)
At church we have been studying 2 Peter, & have been reminded that God has provided us with everything we need to live:
‘His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises’ (2 Peter 1:3&4)
These truths are ours to remind ourselves!
These blessings are ours- because we are His!
Read these chapters yourself!
And as you choose to remind rather than replay:
‘Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.’ (2Peter 1:2)
Pause to think:
*What songs have you been replaying repeatedly?
*What have you been replaying in your mind?
*What truths can you remind yourself of instead?
Blessings,
Ruth x
Blessed! 