Self-Sabotage

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭8 NASB1995‬‬

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Seeking the things above. This could mean many things. It can mean thinking about Heaven and how life here is not eternal. It could mean thinking about your Heavenly Father in Heaven. Or it could mean thinking about the fruits of the spirit. Things that come from above. We see this stated in Philippians 4. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

But why does God want us to think about these things? I know when I was in the midst of my anxiety I would think about the worst-case scenario. Whether it was just going to a birthday party I was worrying about making a fool of myself or making the birthday girl hate me. Yet that never happened. Sometimes my fears did occur though. I would get so nervous to say something stupid that I would repeat to myself, “don’t say something stupid don’t say something stupid don’t say something stupid.” And guess what was the first thing I said, “hi stupid.” Yea I know, not my greatest moment. I totally self-sabotaged myself and self-sabotage seems to be my greatest enemy sometimes.

Allaya Cooks says, “Self-sabotage is when people do (or don't do) things that block their success or prevent them from accomplishing their goals. It can happen consciously or unconsciously. Self-sabotaging behaviors can affect our personal and professional success, as well as our mental health.”

One of the ways I have helped prevent self-sabotage is by focusing on the things of above . When I am giving myself negative self-talk I ask myself is this true? Is this pure? Is hating on God’s creation pure? Is what I say about myself truly in God’s hands? If all things He says are true then who am I to say that my words are true and not God’s?