Talking To Yourself.

'Most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that we are listening to ourselves instead of talking to ourselves." (paraphrase D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

Sounds somewhat nonsensical?

Spiritual depression is influenced by our negative thoughts. These thoughts are spontaneous and often uninvited but are frequently entertained over and over again. They might be thoughts about our sinfulness or our lack of success and our failures. These negative thoughts render the Christian ineffective and unhappy. The Bible calls us to take ourselves in hand (as Lloyd-Jones puts it) and tell ourselves (talk to ourselves about) the truth of God's word. Preach the gospel every day to ourselves. The facts and promises God has given us. Imagine, we are seen as righteous in God's eyes because of Jesus. God loves us as sons and daughters and promises us an inheritance with him forever. He promises us good things! We do not have to do anything to earn our place. We are valuable the way we are because God created us this way and values us.

Our minds need to be continuously renewed by the word of God (Romans 12:2). Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2), not on ourselves but on God and his promises.

See Spiritual Depression, It's Causes and It's Cure by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.