Okay, I’ll admit it. Sometimes I talk to myself. Not out loud, mind you. But I have this annoying inner voice and every so often I have to tell it to be quiet. Like when I first decided to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. That voice just wouldn’t shut up. It worked hard to discourage me.
You? A writer? You don’t have anything to say.
If you step out and try this, you might fail.
Why would you go to a writers conference? Writing for the church newsletter doesn’t make you a writer.
I remember one day when I met my friend, Grace, for lunch. She handed me her copy of Guideposts magazine and asked if I’d be interested in entering their writers workshop contest.
Over the next couple of days, my annoying voice worked overtime.
Are you kidding? It’s Guideposts. They probably get thousands of entries. Your chances of winning are so slim …
But I couldn't stop thinking about it. Finally, I talked back to that negative voice.
What’s it going to hurt if I give it a try? Sure, it’s a little scary to step out and take a risk, but I’m not going to let fear control me …
So I entered the contest.
And a few months later my phone rang. I couldn’t believe it. I had won! I was so excited to tell Curt – I just had to tell him in person. So I called him at work.
“Are you in a meeting right now because I really need to tell you something and it’ll only take a minute and can you meet me in the parking lot?”
He probably thought I had wrecked the van. Or took a pregnancy test …
On my way to meet Curt, a song by the group, Casting Crowns came on the radio. I had always liked the song, but this time I heard the lyrics like never before. If you have a minute, click on the title below so you can listen to the song ...
Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
That line in the chorus, “You’ll never win,” still gets me every time. :-)
Do you ever struggle with a negative inner voice? Your voice probably isn’t telling you to stop writing, but no doubt it’s trying to discourage you.
The next time your inner voice starts jabbering, I encourage you to talk back. After all, we have a choice. We can either allow those lies to get the best of us, or we can listen and believe the voice of truth.
You? A writer? You don’t have anything to say.
If you step out and try this, you might fail.
Why would you go to a writers conference? Writing for the church newsletter doesn’t make you a writer.
I remember one day when I met my friend, Grace, for lunch. She handed me her copy of Guideposts magazine and asked if I’d be interested in entering their writers workshop contest.
Over the next couple of days, my annoying voice worked overtime.
Are you kidding? It’s Guideposts. They probably get thousands of entries. Your chances of winning are so slim …
But I couldn't stop thinking about it. Finally, I talked back to that negative voice.
What’s it going to hurt if I give it a try? Sure, it’s a little scary to step out and take a risk, but I’m not going to let fear control me …
So I entered the contest.
And a few months later my phone rang. I couldn’t believe it. I had won! I was so excited to tell Curt – I just had to tell him in person. So I called him at work.
“Are you in a meeting right now because I really need to tell you something and it’ll only take a minute and can you meet me in the parking lot?”
He probably thought I had wrecked the van. Or took a pregnancy test …
On my way to meet Curt, a song by the group, Casting Crowns came on the radio. I had always liked the song, but this time I heard the lyrics like never before. If you have a minute, click on the title below so you can listen to the song ...
Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
That line in the chorus, “You’ll never win,” still gets me every time. :-)
Do you ever struggle with a negative inner voice? Your voice probably isn’t telling you to stop writing, but no doubt it’s trying to discourage you.
The next time your inner voice starts jabbering, I encourage you to talk back. After all, we have a choice. We can either allow those lies to get the best of us, or we can listen and believe the voice of truth.
