Checking in With Michelle Williams, a 5-Day DevotionalExemplo

If you’re a believer, you’ve probably heard the scripture from Proverbs 18:21 that says, “Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words” (NIRV).

If you don’t think that what you say to yourself or to others has any bearing on your life, you are in danger. Our words and agreements work like magnets that draw us in a certain direction. Even if it’s a direction we don’t want to go in.

Think about it this way: If you wake up every day and say, “It’s going to be an awful day,” everything you do and say that day will be done and said through that negative lens. You’re going to look for the bad, and every time you see it, you’ll say, “See, I was right. It’s an awful day.” . . .

We do this all the time, whether we realize it or not. Don’t think so?

Do you ever find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no? We all do this occasionally, but how many of you continually find yourself going places and doing things you really don’t want to do? Do you put your wants and needs on the back burner and put other people’s (or even animals’) needs first, even when it’s a real inconvenience to you? Is doing something for someone else the only way you feel good about yourself? Making someone else happy? Even if it makes you unhappy?

If this is you, you may have made a spiritual agreement a while back that on your own, you’re no good. That without works, you are worthless. You’ve told yourself that everybody relies on you and you can’t let them down. If you do, you’re selfish. So you find yourself enslaved to the demands of those around you. You’re probably frustrated, drained, and feel taken advantage of. But it’s all because you haven’t checked in with your motives, your why behind the choices you make. . . .

Part of checking in with yourself is becoming aware of what thoughts you’re having over and over again. These are usually signs of agreements you’ve made about yourself internally: spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Prayer

Lord, please show me which of my thoughts do not line up with your Word, and please help me to focus on what is good and true. Amen.