While traveling, a conversation unfolded. The woman I spoke with shared about her life—camping alone, traveling alone, and walking through this season without a spouse. She said she’s living life solo.

I asked her what that’s like. Her face lit up as she described the positives: freedom. Total freedom. “You’re always in charge,” she said. “You do what you want, when you want. And you don’t do what you don’t want to do.

But then her tone shifted. She shared the hard part: the Inner Critic. “That’s the judgmental voice inside,” she explained. “It can be a very harsh judge.”

Here’s how I define the Inner Critic: it’s the echo of every condemning voice you’ve ever heard. Every person who said, “You’re stupid. You’re slow. You’re odd. You’re inadequate. You’re unloveable.” Those words become a constant whisper in your soul. That is the Inner Critic.

So what are we, as Christians, to do with that Inner Critic?

The answer: Nothing. Jesus already sent the solution. (Don’t you just love Jesus?)

He said: “But after I depart, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you.”

You have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit — your Helper, Counselor, and Comforter. The Spirit constantly whispers truth over you:

“You are chosen. You are redeemed. You are forgiven. You are beloved. A place has been prepared for you. You belong with us.”

That Spirit lives inside you.

Here’s the choice:

• The Critic can live large in you — or live small.
• The Holy Spirit can live large in you — or live small.

You decide.

Father, I invite You, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to fill me completely. I surrender the voice of my Inner Critic, and I reject the lies it speaks. I choose to embrace and declare Your truth about who I am — beloved, redeemed, and made in Your image. Let Your voice be the loudest in my life. Amen.

Scripture- Jesus said,
“But here is the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I don’t go away, the Divine Encourager will not be released to you. But after I depart, I will send Him to you.”
John 16:7 TPT