About the Author

Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, counselor, and life coach. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. She's also wife to Mark, Mom to Lovelle, and Nana to Eula and Clem.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Holley,
    I have struggled with this topic for years. Having an anxiety disorder and depression only compounds it. I love the questions you ask and invite us to ask ourselves in order to discern if it’s God’s voice or that of the enemy. I have three questions I ask myself regularly when upsetting and condemning thoughts come into my head:
    1. Does it cause me anxiety?
    2. Is it condemning?
    3. Does it line up with what scripture says about me?
    If the answers are, “Yes, Yes, and No,” then I know it’s lies from “the creep” and I need to kick him and his lies to the curb. Romans 8:1 has become a sort of mantra to me. Sometimes I will even speak it out loud when the enemy comes calling and command him to get behind me in the powerful name of Jesus. The enemy can’t “hear” our thoughts but he can hear our voice and at the name of Jesus he must flee. Thoughts from the enemy are indeed spiritual warfare so desperate times call for desperate measures. Jesus died on the cross so we could walk in freedom – freedom from the enemy’s lies. It is a conscious choice to choose to listen to the voice of Truth. I will be ordering your book….thank you! Reading God’s truth about us is great battle training!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Bev –
      You and I have had someone drill into our heads some really negative thoughts that are challenging to overcome. Thank you for your inspiration and focus to do so.
      Elizabeth

      • Elizabeth,
        So true that if you hear something long enough, you begin to believe. Praying that God would work those old “tapes” out of you mind and heart and replace them with ones of great truth and love – overflowing love that He has for YOU – His beloved daughter. Don’t let those lies define you, you are worth so much more. You are loved so much by God and others!!
        Blessings and love,
        Bev xo

    • BEV I ALSO HAVE O.C.D DEPRESSION TOUGH LIVING DAY TO DAY WITH THESE DISEASES MY FAITH GETS LOW SOME DAYS , BUT HAVING THE IN COURAGE WED-SITE IS A BLESSING. THOUGHTS ARE VERY POWERFUL AND THE DEVIL KNOWS THIS AND USES THIS TO TURN OUR MINDS AWAY FROM GOD . MY STICKING POINT IS WHEN MY PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED I START TO FEEL GOD DOESN,T CARE. IVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A TOUGH SESON I FEEL SO ALONE. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WILL OFFER A ON-BIBLE STUDY ???

      • Maria,
        Praying for you as I know how difficult it is and the enemy preys upon our weaknesses. Praying that God would give you the divine ability to discern His truth in your life and be able to throw the enemy and his lies to the curb. God always answers prayers…I’ve learned it is almost never in the timing that I would have liked, and His way of answering if often different than in the way I would have expected. Sometimes there is a long waiting period…but hold on to the truth the God IS Good and you are loved completely.
        Blessings,
        Bev xo

  2. Thank you, Holley, for a grace filter, for help in discerning a right response to ALL the voices. May we segue into our celebration of motherhood tomorrow, hearing the kind voice of God in our ears and hearts.

  3. This was so timely! After yet another night on the couch (my anxiety makes it hard to go to sleep in bed, and I had started out there but lasted maybe 10 minutes before the automatic negative thoughts started screaming at me) I am feeling frustrated and down that I can’t just enjoy life like “normal” people. Reading this, I’m reminded that the inside voice that was chanting my worst fears at me when I headed upstairs and laid down is NOT from God. It wasn’t peaceful and was full of condemnation! I had never thought about it like that before. Thank you so much for sharing.

  4. Thank you, Hollye,
    This is what I needed to hear and to reflect on. Your words truly do “incourage me”.

  5. I have come through the darkest time. Still in the stormy blast. Much of this ha come through trying to remain alongside ppl who have wandered from the Father. God asked me to love them. Though the enemy has done everything and used every tactic to try to convince me otherwise I know I heard the voice of God repeatedly for over 5 yrs. it has been the most costly and heartbreaking time in my life. It is as though the enemy has taken everything God has made me to be and one by one ripped them up. Throughout this time I have never clung more to seeking God and actively seek His voice and words over my life. He alone can rescue us in the battle. It is not against flesh and blood & i thank and praise Him for keeping my heart tender toward Him and my friend. There is no other explanation I am fully dependent on Him. Cannot see anything if the future but I choose to trust Him. I wait each day for my incourage email. I want to thank every contributor to these posts. Please know that God is using you as vessels pouring out upon broken and hungry souls. May God continue to whisper His words of life to and through you. Continue to speak to our souls Holy Spirit. We depend upon you as the air we breathe.
    God bless x

  6. Thank you. Your encouragement will make a difference for all of us, including myself, whose self-condemnation has become so extreme that all we hear is “LOSER!” May is mental health month.

  7. WOW, Holley this is a game-changer…
    “I read about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). There’s that word again — kindness — and it’s accompanied by many others like it. I’m familiar with this list but I’ve always thought of it in terms of what needs to be present in my life rather than what’s part of God’s character. But of course, fruit is always consistent with its source. I realized when we want to know if what our hearts are hearing is from God, we can ask:
    Is this voice loving?
    Does it lead to more joy in my life?
    Does it bring me greater peace?
    Is it patient with me?
    Is it full of kindness?
    Does it express goodness?
    Does it show faithfulness?
    Is it spoken with gentleness?
    Does it help me have self-control?
    If what we’re hearing or saying to ourselves doesn’t align with the questions above then it is not from God. There is nothing motivating, reassuring, comforting, encouraging, or helpful about criticism and condemnation. There is “now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Even when we do need correction or discipline, “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

    Thank you so much for this “grace filter” as Michele Morin stated in her comments. Very helpful

  8. Wonderful truth here, Holley–from God’s heart, through yours, to us! I, too, found great encouragement in the questions based on the fruit of the Spirit. I’m copying those on a 3 x 5 card to keep handy. Praise God and thank you, Holley!

  9. Holley,
    Thank-you for so kindly sharing your helpful words with us today.
    I hope that you all have a blessed day,
    Penny

  10. Holley,

    This world is super noisy. Everything clamoring for our attention. This is a war we are fighting with the evil one. We desperately need to renew our minds & memorize scripture. Romans 12:2 states “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We need to be in not of this world. Each day we should take time to be quiet & listen for His still small voice. I have wrestled with evil thoughts a lot in my life. Each mistake, or wrong move makes me hear “dumb, stupid, not good enough”. It has taken years, but I finally come to the realization that I can fight those thoughts with scripture. I don’t have to believe them. I am fearfully & wonderfully made in the image of Christ. Thus what I think of myself I also think of Christ. He can’t be those things for He is perfect. Thank you for the lens to see ourselves clearly as God sees us. We can ask ourselves would God say that about me? If no then a total lie to keep us down & out. He is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking to devour whom he may. I believe Satan is working overtime lately. It is our duty to teach the younger generation how valuable they are. Let them see their beauty through the lens of Jesus Christ who died for them.

    Blessings 🙂

  11. Elizabeth,
    So true that if you hear something long enough, you begin to believe. Praying that God would work those old “tapes” out of you mind and heart and replace them with ones of great truth and love – overflowing love that He has for YOU – His beloved daughter. Don’t let those lies define you, you are worth so much more. You are loved so much by God and others!!
    Blessings and love,
    Bev xo

  12. Holly,
    Beautiful and very important message. It speaks volumes to us and offers us a tool to discern plus you’ve backed it up with scripture so your words are straight from Him. Thank you for sharing this, very valuable indeed!

  13. Excellent Holley! I pray I will always remember that, ” God’s voice is always kind. So if what I’m hearing in my heart or mind isn’t kind then it’s not from God.”
    I would like to buy your book What’s True About You. I know I can purchase it at dayspsring.com, but I live in Canada. Is there anywhere I can purchase a hard copy here? (-: Kerry