How do you talk to yourself?  You know what I mean.  The kind of speech that goes on inside your head.  The things which you say inside your heart that no one knows but you.  I think you will agree with me that you are rather hard on yourself.  In the reclusive parts of your mind, you speak to yourself in ways that you would never say to others, nor tolerate others saying about someone else.  Only you know the depth of your own sorrows, hurts, fears, insecurities, and worries.  Except….

            God.  He knows it all.  He knows it all intimately.  And He is not repulsed.  You see, God knows that the answer to all the doubts about yourself is His protection.  You have the freedom to plumb the recesses of your heart and soul – to bring out all that is inside the cluttered closet of your mind and lay it out on the floor without fear of God calling you what you call yourself.

            Slowly read out loud these verses for today several times.  Allow the protecting God to wash over you with grace and understanding.

139 You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
² You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.

³ You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
⁴ Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
⁵ and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
⁶ I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me. (CEV)

Amen.