Session 4, C.J. Mahaney

May. 25 2008

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Taking the stage with much applause (a half standing ovation), C.J. Mahaney delivered Session 4, The Troubled Soul: God’s Word and Our Feelings, an exposition of Psalm 42.

For his introduction C.J. shared a lengthy quote from “the most influential book on counseling” that he’s ever read, Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands. A few excerpts from the lengthy quotation:

“No one is more influential in your life that you are, because no one talks to yourself more than you...What do you regularly tell yourself about yourself, about God? ...When others talk to you is your internal conversation so loud that it’s hard to hear what others are saying? ...How faith-driven is the conversation you have with yourself every day? ...You’re in an unending conversation with yourself.”

C.J. highlighted that Psalm 42 is an opportunity to listen in on the internal conversation of the psalmist and to evaluate the content of the ongoing conversation we have with ourselves. This is critical to do, for, “You are more influenced by your internal conversation than anything else” and, “There is a direct relationship between this unending internal conversation and the state of your soul every day.”

The message was divided into two parts: I. The Troubled Soul. II. The Hopeful Soul.

I. The Troubled Soul (vv. 1-4)

The author of Psalm 42 was troubled by three experiences:

1. The apparent absence of God
2. The presence of trials
3. The opposition of man

II. The Hopeful Soul (vv. 5-11)

The appropriate response when your soul is in turmoil is to 1) talk to yourself and 2) talk to God. C.J. shared how he first came across this idea of “talking to yourself” many years ago when reading Martyn Llyod Jones’ book, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure.

Most of us have spent most of our lives listening to ourselves, but very little time talking to ourselves. Talking to yourself is a learned skill. Our troubled souls aren’t immediately cooperative, aren’t instantly transformed. Our troubled souls need continual addressing with the truth. Talking to yourself takes perseverance.

What do you say to your soul? The psalmist provides us with a starters kit for talking to your soul:

1. Exhort your soul to hope in God.

Troubled souls cannot be trusted and circumstances cannot be trusted. We must not be governed by our troubled souls or by our uncertain circumstances, but by God.
“When we cannot trace God’s hand, we must trust his heart.” -C.H. Spurgeon

2. Talk to God.

God desires that we remind him of his promises.
“...go at once to the throne with, ‘Do as you promised.’” -C.H. Spurgeon
The more time you spend going to God with his promises, the less time you will spend listening to yourself, experiencing a troubled soul.

C.J. concluded his message by reminding us that though we may experience a troubled soul, we never have to experience what our Savior experienced in his soul when he suffered on the cross in our place. Amen!

This was an excellent, helpful, equipping message. Please do listen to the audio. Having been exposed to the Psalm 42/Martyn Llyod Jones idea of talking to your soul for a number of years now, what I was most helped by in C.J.’s message was his insistence that talking to yourself is a learned skill that takes perseverance. Tonight I found fresh encouragement to keep at this business of not listening to myself, but instead talking to myself and talking to God.

I also appreciated that at the end of the message Josh took the stage and encouraged us to gather in groups of three to pray for others as they seek to apply C.J.’s message. These Na people do such a great job at encouraging the application of all the truth we’re being taught.

PS. LCpl Joshua T. Reinicke, stationed with the Marine Quantico Military Police, your mom sends you a big “Hello” from New Attitude!

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