Pay Attention to Your Internal Narrative
Have you ever noticed how much power your inner voice holds? Do you ever think about what you’re thinking about?
Last week I was doing a live radio segment in a completely soundproofed room; it involved reading out a prepared script. In the total silence of that room, my own thoughts seemed louder than ever. As I read, my inner voice kept on chiming in: “Don’t mess up now”, “Did you pronounce that word right?”. It reminded me that we all have an internal voice - a running monologue that is either helping us or hindering us at any given moment.
Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”. In the biblical context, the heart refers to the inner core of a person, encompassing their thoughts, emotions, desires, and motivations. This inner life shapes life on the outside - like a magnet, we attract what we dwell on internally, shaping the course of our lives. Similarly, Jesus' words in Matthew 12:34-35 suggest that our inner thoughts and attitudes - what’s "stored up" in our hearts - inevitably shape our words and actions, and consequently our lives.
Right Believing Leads to Right Living
Many people try to change things about themselves by focusing only on behaviour. They want to break a bad habit or develop a good one, so they address their actions directly. And while that can have some impact, lasting change often requires a deeper transformation - a change in thinking. Over many years of pastoral ministry, I’ve found that when we address the beliefs driving our actions, we get much closer to the heart of the issue. Right believing leads to right living - it is ultimately better believing that leads to better behaving! (That said, we must guard against misuse of this principle: while our thoughts are powerful, they should align with God's will, not be distorted into falsely believing we can simply manifest our desires independently of God’s involvement or decree.)
But the challenge is that our inner voices can often be our harshest critics. We all have an ongoing internal narrative - one that can either uplift us or pull us down. Maybe your mind has, at times, been filled with self-doubt or defeat, echoing statements like, “I am unworthy”, “I am not good enough”, or “I am a failure”. These thoughts might stem from our past experiences or present struggles - words others have said to us, judgements made about us, or painful events we've endured. Over time, we adopt these negative labels, and they become ingrained in how we see ourselves. These labels become embedded in our identities, influencing our beliefs about who we are and, ultimately, shaping the direction of our lives.
Renewing Your Mind with God’s Word
But here’s the good news: God’s Word offers us a new way of thinking about ourselves. Romans 12:2 encourages us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. The enemy would love for us to stay bound by lies, held captive by labels that limit our potential. But God’s truth sets us free! When we choose to replace negative internal narratives with the truth of who we are in Christ, we start to see real transformation. In fact, we can become, in experience, who we already are positionally in Christ.
Engaging with Scripture daily is one powerful way to renew our minds and replace harmful self-talk with God’s promises - to bring our inner voice into alignment with the Holy Spirit’s voice. And instead of defining ourselves by negative labels, we can then embrace a new set of “I am” statements rooted in God’s Word - truths such as:
“I am a child of God” (cf. John 1:12).
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (cf. Psalm 139:14).
“I am more than a conqueror” (cf. Romans 8:37).
The Story of Jabez
The Bible gives us a powerful example of breaking free from harmful labels in the story of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4. The name Jabez means “pain”, and from birth, he was labelled with this painful identity. But rather than accepting this label as his destiny, Jabez went to God in prayer and asked to be freed from pain - and God granted his request. Jabez’s story is a reminder that we, too, can break free from the limitations that others - or even we ourselves - have placed on us. When we turn to God, seeking His truth over our lives, we find freedom and healing, and He gives us a new identity rooted in His love and purpose. This new identity isn’t about striving to become someone else but about embracing who we already are in Him.
Embrace God’s Truth
If you’re ready for change, pay attention to your internal narrative. Engage with God’s Word, and let it renew your mind through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where the world’s labels seek to define you, let God’s labels set you free. Labels like “overcomer”, “forgiven”, “redeemed”, “strong”, and “pure” are what God offers in place of the old ones. When we choose to believe what He says about us - letting go of old, harmful labels and grasping His truth - we start to live the life He intended for us. Remember, more often than not, transformation starts with your thoughts - for where your mind goes, you follow!