Speaking Life - What You Say to Yourself Matters (Part 1): The Power of Your Inner Voice

Speaking Life - What You Say to Yourself Matters (Part 1)

The Power of Your Inner Voice

Hi sweet friend,

Have you ever found yourself speaking words over your life that you wouldn’t dare speak to someone else?

You know, the quiet things you tell yourself when no one else is listening—thoughts like:

• “I’m not good enough.”

• “I should be further along by now.”

• “I can’t do this.”

• “I always mess it up.”

Maybe you’ve heard it so often that it feels normal—like it’s just who you are. But I want to gently remind you that what you say to yourself matters. It shapes how you see yourself, how you approach life, and ultimately, how you walk in the calling God has for you.

You are not just hearing your thoughts—you are agreeing with them. And when those thoughts don’t align with who God says you are, they begin to shape you into someone you were never meant to be.

The Power of Words: Life or Death

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that, “The tongue has the power of life and death…”

Now, this verse is often used to talk about how we speak to others—but did you know it applies to how you speak to yourself, too?

Your words hold the power to build up or tear down—especially the words you speak internally. You can either choose to speak words of life over your heart, or you can let negative thoughts and harsh self-talk become the soundtrack of your life.

But here’s the thing: your thoughts are not always the truth. They’re not always trustworthy.

Too often, we take our thoughts as gospel truth when, in reality, our inner voice is often filled with lies. Lies like:

• “You’re too much.”

• “You don’t deserve that.”

• “You’ll never change.”

Can I say something gentle here? Those thoughts are not from God.
They don’t line up with the truth of who you are in Christ. And the more you agree with them, the more they define your reality.

But here’s the good news:

You don’t have to believe everything your mind whispers to you.
You can choose to replace those lies with God’s truth—truth that calls you redeemed, loved, worthy, chosen, and enough.

Identifying the Inner Critic

Before we can change our self-talk, we first need to recognize what we’re listening to.

Do you ever hear that quiet voice saying:

• “You’re not qualified.”

• “You’ll never be able to handle this.”

• “You’re too broken to be used by God.”

If so, you’re not alone. It’s easy to let that inner critic rule our thoughts. And the longer we agree with it, the harder it becomes to distinguish between our own voice and the enemy’s voice.

But here’s the good news: God wants to heal your inner voice.
He wants to replace condemnation with compassion, fear with faith, and shame with grace.

When Jesus walked the earth, He didn’t speak condemnation to the broken. He spoke life. He spoke healing. He spoke truth.

And guess what? You are the beloved daughter He came to redeem. He wants to speak those same words of life over you—every single day.

What Does Your Inner Voice Sound Like?

Take a moment today to listen to the words you speak over yourself.
Do they align with what God says about you?
Or are they filled with doubt, shame, or insecurity?

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to believe every thought you think.

Not every thought that pops into your mind is truth. Some of them are rooted in fear, shame, or the lies of the enemy. And here’s the best news: you don’t have to agree with those thoughts. You have the power, through the Holy Spirit, to take those thoughts captive—to bring them under the authority of Christ and make them obedient to the truth of God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in 2 Corinthians 10:5:

📖 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5

That’s powerful, isn’t it? The idea that we don’t have to simply let thoughts come and go without evaluating them. We have the ability to stand guard over our minds and say, “Is this thought in line with who God says I am? Does this match up with His truth?”

When we take every thought captive, we stop letting negative or harmful self-talk define us. Instead, we have the power to choose the thoughts we align ourselves with—thoughts that reflect the heart of God for us.

Practical Steps to Begin Speaking Life Over Yourself:

So how do we do this? How do we actively take our thoughts captive and choose truth instead?

1. Identify Negative Patterns in Your Thoughts

Take a moment to reflect on your thought patterns. Are there recurring negative thoughts that come up often? Write them down. Be honest. It’s okay to admit them. When that negative thought pops up—whether it’s, “I’m not enough,” or “I can’t do this,” or “I always mess things up”—pause for a moment. Recognize it for what it is: a lie or a distortion of the truth. This isn’t the voice of your loving Father.

2. Replace Lies with Truth

The next step is to replace that lie with God’s truth. You don’t have to fight against the thought with your own words alone. Use Scripture! God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. So when a lie creeps in, speak out the truth that God says about you. For example:

• Lie: “I’m too much for people.”

  Truth: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

• Lie: “I’ll never be enough.”
  Truth: “I am complete in Him.” (Colossians 2:10)

• Lie: “I’m a failure.”
  Truth: “I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.” (Romans 8:37)

• Lie: “I’m not qualified.”
  Truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Find Scripture that directly opposes the lies you’ve been believing.

3. Replace the Old Thought 

The Bible tells us that our minds are renewed through the Word of God (Romans 12:2). That means, when we consciously replace old, negative thoughts with God's truth, we’re reshaping our hearts and minds to reflect His will. Over time, as you practice this, the more natural it will become to align your thoughts with God’s thoughts. Read Scripture out loud over yourself to help practice.

4. Let Your Thoughts Be in Agreement with God

When you start to take your thoughts captive, it’s important to remind yourself that you are agreeing with God's perspective, not your own or the world’s. You’re not pretending everything is perfect, but you’re aligning with the truth that you are loved, you are enough, and God has already equipped you for the life He’s called you to.

Why It Matters

Taking every thought captive is so much more than just “thinking positive.” It’s about stepping into the reality of who God says you are, choosing to see yourself through His eyes.

Remember: God’s thoughts toward you are always life-giving. His plans for you are good, and His love for you is unshakable.

When you start to take those thoughts captive, you stop letting the enemy whisper lies that hinder you from walking in the fullness of who God created you to be. Instead, you invite God to speak His truth into the deepest places of your heart.

And when you begin to do this daily, your mind will slowly be transformed. You will begin to see yourself the way God sees you: precious, loved, worthy, and called.

Journal Prompt: What Lies Have I Been Believing? What Truth Does God Want Me to Walk In?

Take a few minutes to journal:

• What are the lies I hear most often in my mind?

• What truths from God’s Word can I begin speaking over myself?

• How can I change the way I talk to myself today?

Then, say a simple prayer like this one:

Lord, help me hear Your voice louder than the lies I’ve been believing. Replace my negative self-talk with Your truth. Teach me to speak life into myself, and remind me of who I am in You. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours

Friend, you are not the sum of your mistakes, your fears, or your doubts. You are God’s masterpiece, and His truth over you is always life-giving, always full of hope, and always filled with love.

The next time you hear that inner critic, pause and remember:
You don’t have to agree with every thought you have. You can replace the lies with the truth of who God says you are.

In the next post, we’ll talk about how to break the agreement with the lies we’ve believed—and how to choose God’s perspective instead. I can't wait to dive into that with you!

Until then, keep speaking life, and remember—you are so deeply loved.

You’re not just welcome here—you’re wanted here.

As always, drop a comment if you want prayer. I’d be honored to pray with you. We’re in this together, and I’m so grateful you’re here.

With grace, love, and encouragement,

Ashley Lynn Lord 💙