“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

Long before psychology existed, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions.

Our minds are really an amazing creation. It would take a computer the size of the Pentagon just to carry out the basic functions of your brain. Your brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells. Each individual cell is connected with 10,000 other neurons.

You are constantly talking to yourself. In fact, you’re talking to yourself right now! Research indicates that most people speak at a rate of 150 to 200 words per minute, but the internal dialogue that you carry on with yourself (self-talk) is more like 1,300 words per minute.

The problem is that in our self-talk, a lot of people are like Job. In Job 9:20, he says, “Everything I say seems to condemn me” (GNT). The truth is, we are our own worst critic. 

We often put ourselves down. You could walk into a room smiling, but inside you might be saying, “I’m not smart enough. I’m not capable enough. I’m a horrible pastor.” Most of this dialogue is unconscious.

God wants you to stop putting yourself down. When you put yourself down, who are you really putting down? You’re really pointing to the Creator who made you. When you say, “God, I’m worthless; I’m no good; I can’t do anything,” you’re actually saying, “God, you blew it with me.” That’s why God says it’s wrong to put yourself down.

How do you eliminate negative self-talk so you can become a more confident person?

By using the principle of replacement: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right . . . Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about” (Philippians 4:8 TLB).

Focus on what you want to be and on what God wants to do in your life. 

There isn’t a better antidote to low self-esteem than to read God’s Word every day.

Study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and apply its principles to your life. When you start believing what God says about you, you’ll grow in confidence.