Sometimes we change our inner voices that can cause us to be stuck. This is especially true when we face stressful situations in life. On Sunday April 23, we launched a brand-new message series titled, “The Stress-less Life.” The idea is that we will always have stress. But with God’s unshakable peace and some helpful stress management tools, we can live with less stress.

Even the Apostle Paul commented on a difficult situation in the Philippian church. Paul made a leadership decision that would enable him  to have “less anxiety.” (Philippians 2:28, NIV) He did not say “no anxiety” or “some anxiety.” He said, “less anxiety.”

In Sunday’s sermon, I offered several tools to help us manage our stress. One cognitive tool is to “change our inner voices.” Author and podcaster, John Acuff, calls these inner voices “broken soundtracks.^[1] Often, they are based upon what others might think or say, or what we “think they believe about us or might say.” He suggests that we miss many opportunities and adventures in life when broken soundtracks are in charge of our actions. Acuff writes:

“Broken soundtracks are one of the most persuasive forms of fear because every time you listen to one it gets easier to believe it the next time. Have you ever judged an idea as too dumb to even write down? That’s a broken soundtrack. Have you ever told yourself the same story I do about why someone didn’t text back? That’s a broken soundtrack. Has it ever felt like you have a pocket jury with you, cross-examining each new opportunity until you dare not chase it?  That’s a broken soundtrack.”

He offers this simple encouragement: “If you can worry, you can wonder.  If you can doubt, you can dominate. If you can spin, you can soar.” 

With God’s help and unshakable peace, we can boldly respond to the stressful situations in life with a renewed strength when we retire our broken soundtracks, replace them with new ones and repeat them until they’re as automatic as the old ones.

Retire. Replace. Repeat.

What are some new soundtracks that you can begin playing over and again in your mind?

• “I am worthy.”

• “I am created in God’s image.”

• “God’s got this!”

• “Fear not.” (Matthew 28:10)

• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

• “I am free indeed!” (John 8:36)

On April 30, I look forward to part two of our series. We will unpack what it means to have God’s unshakable inner peace that comes through Jesus Christ. I hope to see you then!

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[1] https://relevantmagazine.com/life5/quarterlife/can-you-silence-your-inner-critic-in-your-twenties-1/ https://careynieuwhof.com/episode530/ (I first learned about John Acuff on the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast.)

God’s richest blessings,