Let me ask you a question: Where do you live?
No, I’m not talking about where you eat supper and lay your head down for the night.
The correct answer is that you live, truly live, right between your own ears, in your mind.
That’s where you listen to and consider the voices that have the greatest impact on your life. And often those voices are nothing but negative.
Let’s look at three types of voice that may be blocking your success.
Consider the story of David with me for a second.
Before he was king, David’s father sent him on an errand to his brothers who were with the army fighting against the Philistines.
Once there, David encountered three voices that are echoed in our lives today.
1) Eliab’s Voice – Your Family & Close Friends
David’s eldest brother Eliab wasn’t happy to see him. Instead he put David down and tried to crush his spirit.
And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” (I Sam. 17:28)
Wow. That would cause most folks to slink away in self-doubt.
David not only didn’t let his brother’s negative words bring him low, he turned around and decided to tackle the biggest problem facing him and his people: Goliath.
2) Saul’s Voice – “Professional” Opinions
But before David could take on Goliath, he again faced a disparaging voice in King Saul, the experienced “professional” in this scenario. Saul told the young shepherd boy there was no way that one so young, small and inexperienced could possibly face a giant!
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” (1 Sam. 17:33)
Just like the negative words of family and friends, the pessimistic opinions of professionals often play over and over in our minds for years after.
3) Goliath’s Voice – The Enemy
Once David finally was face-to-face with Goliath, the giant taunted him with threats that would make most of us run for the hills.
And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? …Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” (1 Sam. 17: 43-44)
How many of you have some Goliaths in your life?
And how many of you have been made to feel by the voices of your past and present that you can’t possibly take on those giants?
NOW, PLEASE PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THIS NEXT POINT…
We all need more encouragement, direction and instruction than we are ever going to get from the voices in our own heads.
We all need a coach in life.
I want you to stay tuned, because I’ve got some very special offers coming up on my courses and coaching programs. You can face your Goliaths. You can overcome. And I can’t wait to show you how.
