King David: A Master Class In Self-Talk!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”
— Psalm 103:2 (NLT)

The book of Psalms is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is a life changing opportunity to eavesdrop on the personal conversations King David was having—with God about himself, and with himself about God. Over and over again David gives us a masterclass in self-talk!

One of the greatest spiritual disciplines you can cultivate is the discipline of remembrance. Not just remembering what God has done in history—but what He has done in your story.

Because the most important conversation of your life isn’t with your spouse, your pastor, or even your boss. It’s the conversation you’re having with yourself about God and then the resulting conversation you are having with God about yourself and those connected to you.

When your thoughts about God are rooted in truth—truth about His grace, His forgiveness, His healing, and His unfailing love—everything changes. Your peace, your identity, your relationships, and your purpose all begin to accelerate and align.

Loving God With All Your Mind

We often emphasize loving God with our heart and soul—but Jesus also said to love Him with all your mind (Luke 10:27). Why? Because your mind is the lens through which you view God and His will for your life. If that lens is distorted, your entire life is affected. Jesus said that a little lie can negatively affect your entire life. (Matt 16:6 NLT)

That’s why Paul says:

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
— Romans 12:2 (NLT)

The enemy knows this. That’s why one of his primary tactics is deception. The voice of the accuser works relentlessly to twist the truth about God and about you.

• “If God really loved you, why are you going through this?”
• “Maybe you’re not forgiven after all.”
• “You’re too messed up to be used by God.”

Satan’s goal is simple: to make you believe something about God and about yourself that is not true. That’s why reminding yourself of the truth is not optional—it’s a major weapon of your spiritual warfare.

David: A Master of Right Self-Talk

David, a man after God’s heart, wasn’t perfect—but he had a remarkable gift for reminding himself of God’s goodness. He often spoke directly to his soul:

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases…”
— Psalm 103:2–3 (NLT)

David was preaching to himself. He didn’t wait until he felt grateful—he commanded his soul to remember the goodness of God. This habit sustained him through betrayal, loss, and years of delay.

If you want to build unshakable faith, follow David’s example: Learn to monitor your thinking about God be sure that the conversations you are having with yourself about God are based on His word!

Deuteronomy: God’s Masterclass in Remembering

The entire book of Deuteronomy is essentially God’s divine reminder to His people: Don’t forget what I’ve done for you. It’s Moses’ final message, a heartfelt masterclass in spiritual memory. Before Israel crossed into the Promised Land, God didn’t give them new strategies—He reminded them of old victories. Over and over, He said things like “Remember how I led you… remember how I fed you… remember how I fought for you.” Why? Because what you remember shapes what you believe—and what you believe shapes how you speak. Just like David stirred himself up by remembering God’s goodness, Deuteronomy teaches us that forgetfulness is the enemy of faith, but remembrance fuels trust, obedience, and worship.

One of our greatest challenges is that we too often remember the things God has forgiven—and forget the things He’s asked us to remember. Like Israel in the wilderness, we’re quick to recall our pain, failures, or offenses, but slow to remember His faithfulness, His promises, and His mighty acts. (Deuteronomy 8:2, Psalm 103:2)

The Horizontal Impact: You Can’t Give To Others What You First Haven’t Received Yourself!

There’s another layer to this: it’s not just about how you relate to God—it’s also about how your relationship with God will effect how you relate to others.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
— Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

In other words, you can’t give to someone else what you haven’t first received—or at least what you haven’t fully realized you’ve received.

That’s why remembering and embracing what God has done for you isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about fueling your ability to love, forgive, and walk in grace toward others.

• When you remember how patient God has been with you, you become more patient.
• When you recall how deeply He forgave you, you can be empowered to let go of offense.

Scriptures That Call Us to Remember What God Has Done For Us:

• Psalm 103:2–3 (NLT): “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”
• Colossians 3:13 (NLT): “…Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
• Deuteronomy 6:12 (NLT): “Be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”
• 1 Chronicles 16:12 (NLT): “Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.”
• Psalm 77:11 (NLT): “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.”
• Psalm 78:7 (NLT): “…not forgetting his glorious miracles…”
• Lamentations 3:21–23 (NLT): “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!”
• Isaiah 46:4 (NLT): “I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
• Psalm 136:23 (NLT): “He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.”

Practical Ways to Remind Yourself

• Keep a gratitude list (My wife is amazing at doing this!) What has God done for you?
• Speak Scripture out loud: Don’t just read—declare it.
• Thank God for past answers: Make thanksgiving a habit. Like the great Dr. Ed Cole always said, “Thanksgiving confirms relationship!”
• Talk to your soul like David: Preach truth to yourself. Like Morris Cerullo said, “Fill your mind with the word of God!”

Your Greatest Investment

Your mind is either being renewed by truth or shaped by lies. That’s why spending time in God’s Word—and remembering what He has done—is the greatest investment you can make in your life.

One of my favorite Dr. David Jeremiah statements has always been, “The greatest source of GOOD THOUGHTS is the word of God!”

The accuser’s lies lose power when you fill your thoughts with God’s faithfulness.

Because what you believe about God—and what you believe God believes about you—will determine the course of your life!

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your goodness, Your forgiveness, and Your faithfulness. Help me to never forget the good things You’ve done for me. Thank you that the voice of the accuser is always silenced by the truth of Your Word. Teach me to love You with all my mind and to speak truth to my soul. And may I extend to others what I have received from You—grace, patience, forgiveness and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.