So, who do you think you talk most to every day? 
I know who that person is for me and although I can’t prove it, I bet it’s the same for you.
I don’t usually speak out loud to this person although once in awhile I have been known to blurt out a few words.
I don’t often engage in long conversations with this person, but during the night when I’d rather be sleeping they occasionally drag on. Sometimes when I talk to this person it’s encouraging, but other times I feel worse when I hear this person speaking.
Can you guess who it is?
Well…the person with whom I converse the most each day is me! And I betting the one with whom you talk most is you.
So if we all talk that much to ourselves, what we tell ourselves becomes really important, doesn’t it?
Especially because our mind’s influence on our body can be positive as well as negative!
And while I don’t believe our thoughts can guarantee completely restored physical, emotional and mental health, I do believe they can influence all of these. Christian psychologist, the late Dr. William Backus says we need to remember three facts:
Your beliefs create your thoughts.
Your thoughts generate feelings.
Your feelings affect your body’s healing systems.
Dr. Backus advocates not just positive-thinking, but telling ourselves the truth about our situation. He has gathered many examples of truthful healing beliefs embraced by those who have survived life-threatening illnesses. Here are a few—I hope you add them to your mind’s “pharmacy” or share them with someone else who needs a healing touch:
- “I refuse to believe my diagnosis is an automatic death sentence.
- I believe treatment is effective against this illness, especially the skillful efforts of scientific medicine combined with my strategies for replacing lying thoughts with the truth.
- I believe my hormones and immune system were created to be on the side of my healing and can work to overcome this illness.
- I believe God is on the side of my healing because His unbreakable Word says so.
- I believe I am personally responsible for my treatment and for managing it.
- I believe hope is a choice. I choose hope, not hopelessness.
- I believe I’m on earth to share hope, and joy with others. I’m here to love others, regardless of my physical condition.
- I believe that God’s will is good. I believe that He loves me and wants only the best for me—no matter what He is allowing me to experience right now.
- I can recover from this illness and live a rich, productive life. But whether I recover or not, I am going to leave this life someday regardless. Until then I can live a full life of service every day for as long as I am given.” *
You don’t just honor God when you speak pleasing words to Him, but you also honor Him when you speak pleasing words to yourself.
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
–Proverbs 15:4
Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.–Proverbs 16:24
*William Backus, The Healing Power of the Christian Mind (Minneapolis: Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 1996) 96.
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Open in your browser to hear “Let the Words of My Mouth” by Fernando Ortega.
