Speak to Yourself

Muscle memory has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition (wikipedia). When we practice we need to practice correctly or we make errors in our form.  There are other things that can cause us to have incorrect form such as injury.  

An injured runner will favor the injured leg or ankle and, if done too long, over time will change their stride.  This change in stride can cause further injury.  If you have ever had a coach work with you when you are injured, he/she would tell you to rest and strengthen so that you don't further injure yourself. Sometimes we ignore what our coaches say resulting in the "look" followed by an "I told you so".  When this happens, we have no one to blame but ourselves.  

On the other hand a runner with a perfect stride will run an excellent race.  Every runner seeks that flawless race, earning them their personal best.  Or better yet, they run so well that they are the overall winner.  Today's piece by Pastor Joyce has very wise words for us when it comes to keeping that perfect stride.  And in the end.... WE are the victor!

Speak to Yourself January 23

In order to live a victorious life we must align ourselves with the will of God.  We become aligned through warfare against external forces that tempt us to succumb to fear and doubt.  But another enemy we face comes from within.  This enemy is our emotions; when we allow our emotions to control our words and actions we quickly get out of alignment.

Physically if the body is out of alignment it becomes susceptible to injury.  The same is true of the emotions.  If our desires, which are triggered by our emotions are not in sync with the desire of God for our life, we become wounded leading us into fear, depression, anger, self-pity or an array of other abnormalities.  All of these become faith robbers.

The only way to truly be filled with faith is by the Word of God; Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”. There is an interesting study that has been done on the brain that explains how the brain can be reprogrammed (renewed).  It is accomplished by speaking something other than that which is currently encoded.  It doesn’t happen by someone else speaking because the internal mechanism responsible for the systems encrypting only responds to the brain’s own voice.

We will believe all the negative stuff that comes out of our mouth until we change our vocabulary and begin speaking the Word of God to ourselves; then we will understand what Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “…Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”  And in Ephesians 5:19 he says, “Speak to yourselves in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart.”  Speak the Psalms out loud to yourself every day and watch your faith rise.