That voice in your head that says you’re no good.
That says you’re uncool.
That says you’re always behind the curve, at the back of the line, in the dark.
That says you’ll never catch up, never get a break, never live into the dream you’re chasing in the midnight hours.
That says you’re only as good as how many people read you, retweet you, friend you, talk to you after Church.
That says you’re hopeless, tired and washed up.
That says you can’t get a break because you don’t deserve one.
That says the chaos that sweeps through your house at bed time, the temper tantrums your kids tornado over you, the battle over who chooses which tooth brush defines you.
That says this can’t be my life; I want a better one.
That says you’re too slow, too behind, too out of the loop.
That voice?
That voice is a liar.
And you need to tell him so. Out loud. And often.
Because the only voice that matters already said this,
He said that to the prophet Jeremiah. What is He saying to you?
“Before I formed you in the womb, Lisa-Jo I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a mother to these children and an encourager to my daughters.”
What is He saying to you?
What is HE saying to ^you^? Go ahead, write it down. On a scrap of paper, in these comments, on the palm of your hand.
What is He saying to beautiful you?
Thank you so much for this reminder! It came right as I needed it. God used your words to speak to me in a powerful way tonight.
I think…
I think He is whispering, “stop digging in your heels, my girl…c’mon…it’s time to jump ALL IN…” And I can feel His gentle touch on my chin, turning my face upward to the light, to see His Glory, to see the smile on His Face, to relish the gift of double-rainbows stretched across the Colorado-mountain sky, the tender buds of Spring’s first Aspen leaves reaching ever upward…
Thanks, Lisa-Jo. What a broken record am I, always grateful for your tender, truth-filled words, that lead me to new conviction and new life!
Thank you for this post. My eyes are teary and my heart is thankful that you allowed The Lord to speak through you this evening.
Lisa-Jo…thank you for this.
Before I formed you in the womb, LeeBird I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you to fly free and help other to do the same.
Lisa-Jo, these words of yours are powerful. Thanks for speaking the truth. I let that voice speak all too often to my heart and then sometimes I start to believe it. Taking those thoughts captive now and instead replacing those words with His words.
Thanks so much, I needed that today.
I have heard that small voice in the night, telling me ‘you used to be so selfish with your sleep and yet there you were for 3 hours last night calming that baby that usually sleeps through the night. Holding him until he could get himself back to sleep and then doing it again when he woke back up.’
Let’s hope I can remind myself of that when it happens again tonight. Thanks again.
Suzi
The enemy of my soul has been whispering his poisonous lies into my ear lately too. Thankfully I don’t listen to it for as long as I used to do. I am getting better at spotting him from five paces now. I sometimes succumb to his lies but I am learning to seek the Lord, to hear HIS truth and to know WHO I am to the King. I need to remember that God made me and put me here to minister as a help-mate to my lovely hubby, to pour encouragement into the lives of the lovely women around me who give, give, give all the time to their hubbies and families, and to seek the Lord, know Him better, hear His heart. Thanks for this encouraging post Lisa-Jo. xo
Thank you for this – I need to listen to the true voice! The one that says, “Hilary, Come close and listen to Me, because I am meek and humble in heart. Come closer, because I want to tell you about the writer I’m going to put in your heart, the student of history, the teacher, the dreamer. Come closer, because I want to tell you that I know you better than your mother and father and friends, and I have made plans to prosper you. Come closer, because I love you enormously.” Thank you for helping us all listen.
This is a great reminder. You have touched on something that we don’t touch on enough. It is not about “self-esteem” but about God loving us, completely. I am His child; He loves me. That makes all the difference. No matter how I mess up He is there to show me the way, to comfort me, to forgive me. What a freedom we have in Christ! He is risen, He is risen indeed.
May He inspire you, comfort and basically meet you where you are today.
Blessings,
Jan
He’s been saying, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.” Oh how much fear he is showing me I have stored up in me! I am learning to confess it as sin, not trusting him. Weak I am, but he is strong. Oh thank you for encouragement, Lisa-Jo.
Thank you for this. I do not normally leave comments (believing the lie) but today I needed this so much and know that it was meant for me, I had to tell you thank you. Not onl does he know me he has called me to be right here today. I love the verse in Esther that I have been called to this time, but I forget……….. Today I want to be happy with today not just work for tomorrow, I want today’s calling.
Cha Cha
SO true. Thanks for the reminder! You are a wonderful writer, and encourager! I’m so glad I found this blog!
The hardest days is when that voice gets the loudest, but those are also the most important days to silence it or ignore it. I’m working on it… but it’s hard. Really hard. Thankfully, God’s on my side.
‘that’ voice was particularly loud this morning and your words….mother and encourager…encouraged me THANKS
This is so me today, right now! I received word yesterday regarding my financial aid for next school year, not good. They say I will have to pay for my education should I choose to continue. Really? Single mom, no child support from “father”, edging closer to 50 every day, finally decided to finish my degree ’cause God told me to, really? I was defeatd, no doubt about it. Then I pondered all night, was irritable with my children, still irritable this morning wondering if God was telling me to quit school, get a full-time job and let the school and day-care raise my children, or if it is the enemy trying to veer me off of God’s plan for me. And then your post, aaahhhhh! Refreshing to receive such clarity in black and white. Sometimes I need black and white, paper and words (or screen and words). A million thank you’s!!!!!
He’s telling me that I’m a mother to His people, and it’s time to go and be that for those who’ve never known the tenderness of a mama.
It’s time…and I’m going.
right now?
instant response was ‘peace’…
much needed and gratefully received!
“Be still and know …”
This made me cry Lisa-Jo. I really needed this reminder. Thank you.
Oh my..I was fixing my lunch and the kids have just been put down for a nap and I have a thousands things to do during naptime, but something told me to quickly read your blog….Thank you and Thank you Lord for giving me exactly what I needed to hear!
Love. Love. Love. It so relates to my last blog post about being “that mom”. What a good and blessed reminder. We are loved.
Thank you for this. I am printing it out for my teen — who needs to hear it from somebody other than Mom. =) ~Sally
So needed this today. Now to drown out that noisy voice and find the inner calm to hear that still small voice that whispers his love to us! Thanks for this reminder!
Love this! It’s a reminder I need almost every day! Thanks :)
Wow, I can’t even tell you what a blessing this entry was to me this morning. I’ve been battling those lies in a MAJOR way lately and just the other day, God led me to that same verse about knowing me before I was born. Such an amazing gift to think that even if others in our life didn’t want us, HE did. . . and the fact that He would give His very own perfect son for a mess like me . . . I just have to keep going back to that.
I’m going to link to this entry. I know that it’s going to be a blessing to many. Thanks.
Thank you! I needed this today.
Cxx
Loved it! Thank you!
You are safe and secure in Me
That’s what I hear …love this space LJ …this space u give us to listen and hear
Great reminder. On some days – I really need it. :)
tears…thank you
Hi Lisa Jo,
Have you ever heard of TA (Transactional analysis, a model for psychotherapy)? What you just wrote up there is what they call the small or little professor. I was struck with your story. So the bible and psychoanalysis have a lot in common ;-)) So awesome that all those things coincide. As I often find in religions and spiritual ways to live your life. If it is about love and the dark side of us that we have to deal with, it all boils down to love and living with an open heart, an open attitude and loads of curiosity towards our neighbours (‘naasten’ in Dutch). I always read your blog at least once a week. I haven’t tried my hand at the five minute Friday yet, also because Friday is my day off and I prefer not to turn on the computer, but I always enjoy yours. Your mom died 18 years ago, mine 16 now, I was so very moved by those posts, I often envision the day when she will be gone 21 years, because that was the age I had when she died.
Your English is so beautiful too. You find the very right words! And you look splendid on that picture with Zoe Grace on your tummy and your hair to one side in the post before last! Wonderful!
I will not be a mommy but I am in the process of moving in with my boy friend Harm Jan (yes, it finally has come to that!) and my apartment is for sale now. He has two children, aged 7, a boy and a girl of 5 years old. The ex is still around and I will never be their mother, but it is a joy to be around those youngsters and see how they see the world and they do have a place in my heart. I only see them on Sundays (he has them on Sundays and Thursdays) and in the holidays and that is great.
Well, enough for now, keep up the good work and I send you loads of hugs and love
Selina
I’ve been reading your posts a lot lately and love them. They are so relatable and right on!
I am trying to gain help in spreading the word about an idea God has given me about helping those affected by the tornadoes – to write letters to the families about how God is still good, how he has not left them, personal stories of hope during struggle, and scriptures of hope. Letters can be e-mailed to me, and then I will print them and distribute them to shelters and churches in the states affected by the storms.
All the info. and where to send the letters is at my blog, http://www.cookingupfaith.com – Write a Letter to Help Tornado Victims.
Please pray and consider sharing this on your blog. I’m trying to get as many letters as possible. Thanks so much!
Thank you for being so transparent in your encouragement. I have been listening to the lies for so long that I didn’t even realize that they were lies… thank you for the reminder to listen to what HE has said to me- and to just rest in that…
Kirsten
…that my story matters, too! every speck of it.
Right now, at this very moment, just after I sent my kids to bed without saying goodnight to them…because I couldn’t handle another second of their bickering, yelling, and tantrums…that voice, the liar, was speaking to me. And I’m having a hard time not believing it. I believe it every day…and act accordingly, even joining along. And then I read this. Again, I think God has put you in my way…to protect me from myself. As I read the verse, “Before I formed you…” I didn’t have to read further. I knew the rest…and I finished it on my own…while tears swelled and poured uncontrollably from my eyes. I was meant to come here tonight, to read this…to help me remember from where I come. Thank you.
I just found your blog and thank-goodness I did. This post was exactly what I needed, exactly what I have been needing to hear! Here is what I think He said to me…
“Before I formed you in the womb, Kirsten I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a leader, mentor and friend.”