Done with that negative voice in your head?

As I walked into the chapel I sat with hope that my morning prayer would be answered. “I just need to hear your voice Lord.”  Yeah, it was a one liner prayer. Has life ever left you so exhausted that words like those were the only thing you could think to utter?

I had tried and failed all week to quiet the OTHER voice. The voice that knows its way into almost every mother’s head, “You aren’t doing enough, you aren’t strong enough. Don’t even try, you’ll just fall short.”  Someday I’m going to figure out how to use duct tape to shut that voice up. You can use duct tape to fix anything right?

Duct tape is one solution, but it finally clicked that maybe the answer to quieting a relentless voice is asking and seeking to hear the voice I DID need. 

I joined in the opening song even though I was annoyed that the song chosen was one nobody knew.  We all fumbled around the notes as we tried mumble-singing the words. Not. Exactly. Inspiring.  There I was with my negative thoughts again. I repented by trying to find how I could feel uplifted by the song. I looked down and saw a scripture reference at the bottom of the page. Isaiah 55:10-11, ok maybe that will be more inspiring. 

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”  

Isaiah 55:11

I read on and the more I absorbed the more I was humbled.  Here I was grumbling about a “stupid” song that happened to lead me to a chapter in scripture all about forsaking our thoughts and hearing the voice of the Lord. Remember that part about how my only prayer that very morning was, “I just need to hear your voice Lord.”   Total coincidence right?

I had just studied glazed over Isaiah 55 a few weeks before but, I mean, ISAIAH?!?!? Need I say more?  SO I had two miracles that day.  #1 The Lord answered my prayer perfectly. #2 I understood something in Isaiah.

I wish I could say I understood all at once what the Lord was trying to tell me, but between the toddler who was trying to hit everyone in the row with her Mini Mouse purse, the 10 year old who was acting like a toddler, and my adult brain that sometimes has the understanding of a toddler; I had a hard time focusing. Luckily the Lord is patient and helped things to fit into place as I continued to read and ponder the words throughout the day. 

Mind if I share?  For sure, go read Isaiah 55 but here is some of the truth the Spirit helped me see. It has helped me and my brain pain tremendously and could help anyone who struggles with negative thoughts.   So many great gems but I’ll just share my favs because you don’t want to sit here reading my blog all the day long; or maybe you do because its just that awesome:)

All scriptures referenced below are from Isaiah 55 KJV.

Lesson #1 Ask for the voice you DO want to hear. 

I kinda mentioned this in the beginning but I think it warrants stating again. It’s nearly impossible to get rid of negative thoughts by saying, “I want this negativity to leave.” Even thinking about how we don’t want negative thoughts is still thinking about the negative thoughts!  I know, annoying but true. Spending time giving power to the negative fearful voice in our heads like it will actually do us good is like starving then “spending money for that which is not bread” or “laboring for that which satisfies not.” vs. 2  It will NEVER produce positive results.  There will never be enough negative thoughts to create change for good. Says the person who was just criticizing herself for being way to slow at writing and clearly explaining her thoughts.

Rather we need to ask for and give power to what can replace the voice of negativity; the Lord’s voice.  Ask to hear the Lord’s voice every day, in every moment. You will be astonished with the many ways He speaks to you.  Now excuse me while I take my advice a say a quick prayer for a little help here.

#2 You gotta put in some effort if you want to hear the Lord’s voice; and you will find happiness when you do.

“Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good and let your soul delight in fatness.”  vs. 2

See, even the Lord knows how happy fatty butter makes us so He had to use it to make His point. 

Here’s the same idea spoken in different words:

“Incline your ear and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live.”  vs.3

You know how when someone is speaking very softly so you tilt your head to try to hear better?  You may even have to shush someone near you so you can hear.  Before we can even hear the Lord we have to recognize the other voice that is trying to prevent us from hearing and tell it to SHUSH! Then we can “incline our ears” to hear the Lord. But how? 

I think we make this harder than it has to be.  We can pull out the proverbial ear plugs by letting go of the fearful thoughts in our minds and exercising a particle of faith. We can show that faith by simply accepting  that we are loved children of God and He speaks to his children despite how unworthy we might feel. 

YOU ARE WORTHY.  The Lord has mercy and abundantly pardons. vs. 7. The Lord is speaking to you, He wants you to hear. Stop the self deprecation crap and accept that you are enough and you are loved. Got it?

#3 Your negative thoughts are NOT the Lord’s thoughts.

When we are in “woe is me” mode it is easy to take our negative thoughts and assume they are what the Lord must be thinking about us too. Wrong. He says it right there in verse 8. “My thoughts are not your thoughts.”  I know that scripture isn’t always interpreted this way but it rings very true. Read it and hear the Lord gently saying, “All those negative things you tell yourself, I’ve never thought them for a moment. I believe in you more than you can possibly imagine. Give me a chance and I’ll show you what I really think about you. You will be astonished.”

So again,  “forsake your thoughts” and “return unto the Lord; and He will have mercy upon {you}, for He will abundantly pardon.”  vs.7

#4 Listening to the Lord’s voice can only lead to success.

When I read vs. 11 as I sat in church wishing to hear the Lord, it was like He said to me, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: (you will hear my voice) it shall not return unto me void, (but it won’t leave you void like the negative voice in your head) but it shall accomplish that which I please, (it will help you accomplish your righteous desires) and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (My voice prospers anyone I send it to and it will prosper you.)

It may be helpful to insert the definition of prosper here, which is “to make successful.” Not to shabby but even more beautiful is the greek definition.

To carry toward, to bear. 

So as negative thoughts push us down stop and our progress; the Lord’s thoughts and voice will carry us toward Him and bear us up. I think I’ll go for option #2.  Such a beautiful thought. 

#5 Listening to the Lord is a part of keeping our covenants with Him.

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.”  vs. 3

I read those last words over and over again and each time I was filled with the same grateful, empowering feeling. I didn’t understand why I kept feeling so much emotion at those words. It was if I was hearing words my soul already knew and understood but my brain was trying to catch up.  Have you ever felt that way?

God is speaking to you and one of the most beautiful sentences He can ever speak is…

“I will make an everlasting covenant with you.“

Why?  Because as we make and keep covenants with our Heavenly Father it is like He is saying to us:

I will bind myself to sustain, sanctify and exalt you.

I will give you a continual flow of blessings that will help you act rather than be acted upon.

I will help you gain greater control over your life.

I will give you a steady supply of strength, gifts, and help.

I will expand your faith that you will be able to do all I require.

I will turn every affliction for your gain.

I will give you the faith to face trials and you will gain even greater faith through those trials. 

I will let my divine influence, the power of godliness, flow into your life.

I will give you the Holy Ghost as your comforter, guide and companion.

I will answer you when you ask in faith according to your need. 

I will make you a powerful instrument for good. 

I will strengthen and finish your faith. 

I love you so much I gave my only Son for you.

(See The Power of Covenants Elder D. Todd Christofferson April 2009)

Done with that negative voice in your head? Ask to hear the Lord’s Voice. Listen hard. Forsake your negative thoughts and seek the Lord’s.  Be prospered by His words. Believe in and access the power of the Lord’s covenant with you. It He will change you.