Psalm 22:11 (ESV)
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
Devotion
Have you ever struggled with negative self-talk?
When I worked in the psyche ward at Province Hospital, I met a woman who complained of hearing voices. These voices were a plague on her life and she was happy to talk about it until I asked the question: Do these voices have a name?
Whose voice do you hear when you hear voices?
A few years back, I despaired of not being able to jog and even joked about myself to a colleague in the gym. I said: What am I supposed to do? Buy running shoes and start running intervals again? Later, I realized that I had vocalized the voice in my head. After reflection, I ordered the shoes and, for a time, hid them from my wife, afraid that she would ridicule me for wasting my money. I walked and ran intervals for a month or so, but then I started running again. I have been running ever since.
My mentor in the hospital, Sister Maureen, advised: When you discover negative self-talk, substitute a breath prayer, like Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive me. Let the voice in your head be someone you can trust.
In my case, jogging is often a time of meditation. Fresh air and sunshine are conducive to reflection and exercising is perhaps the only time that I am truly alone with my thoughts. It is just a tiny step further to turn to God.
Prayer
Lord of all Creation,
All praise and honor, power and dominion, truth and justice are yours because you come to us in our time of need and do not leave to wallow in self-pity.
Heal our pains, forgive our sins, do not leave us to our fallen desires.
Thank you for the many blessings of this life—our health, our family, our work, and a faithful church. May we never forget the example of Jesus Christ who lived a righteous life, was tortured, killed, and rose from the dead.
In the power of your Holy Spirit, be ever present in our thoughts. Give us words to pray and a heart for your work.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Stephen W. Hiemstra