A Video Bible Study:
Elizabeth George’s
“Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit”
Lesson 10

Today’s Bible verse reminds us to fight the good fight, against our feelings:

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:11-12)

See the words “fleshly lusts which war against the soul”?  Do you ever feel a war going on inside of your heart?  For me, I must constantly battle to beat back the negative self-talk.  Sometimes this starts before I get out of bed!

Negative self-talk can be defeating feelings of low self-esteem, or bitterness towards someone else, or fear and anxiety, or just plain old complaining. These types of feelings keep me from “walking in newness of life” and just drag me back to a bad, bad place that I don’t need to be.  There is a war going on, a war in my heart.  And as we all know, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Matt 12:25). 

Negative self talk is just ninja-like feelings of doubt that can strike at any time, from any where.   It is a heart-sickness that’s come to call.  Like Jesus, it stands at the door to your heart, knocking.  Unlike Jesus, it conflicts with God’s Truth about Who you are and Whose you are.  We talked about this last Friday and earlier this week too.  I can’t afford to entertain those kinds thoughts.  I gotta’ kick ’em to the curb, daily.

Here is what it is to lose the battle with your feelings: the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8).

Today’s video lesson reminds us to be careful with out hearts, to protect them, and not just for ourselves, but also for God’s Kingdom (if the video does not appear, refresh the browser):

Are you fighting your feelings? Who is winning? 😉  I pray that you will turn your thoughts toward Jesus and find rest in Him.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent (Ex 14:14).