As I reflect on last Sunday, I have such gratitude for @bravelikegabe and this incredible opportunity. It was such a gift to be on this wonderful team and to help my ACC family. The experience also helped me personally in so many ways. There are many lessons this experience taught me, including to speak life to yourself.

One day on a run I said something to myself that I had never said before. It happened on a run about half way through my training.

I was running along the trail and heard myself saying “good job, Shawn, I am proud of you.”

This moment caused me to pause.

I am a very outwardly encouraging person yet my inner dialogue towards myself hasn’t always matched what I would say to others.
Yet through my training I found my words being kinder and more encouraging towards myself which surprised me.

I share this with you today in case any of you aren’t as kind and encouraging to yourself as you are to others. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

I’m not saying you need to train for a marathon. I am saying that we need to be mindful of the words we speak to ourselves. Words have power. They can build up or tear down. God wants us to speak life to others, AND ourselves. Not in a prideful way but with a humble, grateful heart, acknowledging who He made us to be and the gifts and abilities He’s given us.

This week, let’s practice speaking words of life towards ourselves as we would to others. And by doing this may we experience greater contentment within, as I did that day on the trail, and through this wonderful couch to marathon journey.

With love and hope,
Shawn