If you’ve heard me speak about self-talk, you know that I pass out rubber bands for everyone to put on their wrists to snap if they think something that is not true about them–from God’s perspective. Women have always given me good feedback about how they finally recognize how destructive their unbiblical self talk is.

I’ve included the topic of self talk in several of my books but never would have thought that someone could write a whole book about it. But Shelly Beach has done it! And wow! Is it ever a powerful book. I highly recommend her book, The Silent Seduction of Self-Talk: Conforming Deadly Thought Patterns to the Word of God (Moody Publishing). Since I don’t want this to be a book review but a valuable post, I’m going to share with you some of her amazing ideas. She writes powerfully and effectively how we can stop and listen to our thoughts because they could be turning us away from the Lord.

“…one surprising element of Eve’s interaction with the serpent is that he never urged her to do anything. He simply asked her to think. With a carefully nuanced phrase or two, the serpent set Eve’s self-talk in motion.” (pg 31)

“In our woundedness, we often strip others of their rightful place at the foot of the cross beside us. But in our woundedness we must be ruthless in examining our motives and self-talk.” (pg 122)

“As the weeks passed, God began to answer that prayer. He showed me I could begin to understand my motives if I would take the time to stop, look, and listen to myself before, as, and after I spoke and acted.” (pg. 136)

“I cannot be changed until I first understand how desperately I need to be changed.” (pg 143)

“Whispers of entitlement call to us a hundred times a day–telling us we have a right to rage, to indulge in pride, to gorge on resentment, to criticize and complain, to shove our way to the front of the line…At times one eye is barely opened before I have to begin the work of asking, Where did this lousy attitude come from? What am I telling myself I’m entitled to, and is what I believe really the truth? Am I depending on God or relying on people to come through for me instead? On bad days, when I’ve thought about giving in and giving up, I’ve thought about wearing a sign around my neck: Warning: Child of God Under Construction–Slow Learner.” (pgs 144-145).

These were some of my favorite quotes but the book is filled with practical, significant, and Biblical ways for us to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

I highly recommend her book.