It gets crowded in my head. Like a closet that needs to be cleaned out, there’s so much junk packed on my mental shelves, they sag with the weight of hurts and unforgiveness. Continually packing in offenses then forcing the door shut causes an overflow of garbage. If you struggle to control the thoughts in your head, it’s time to haul some things away; it’s time to stop letting your mind wander and change the soundtrack.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:2 NIV
The soundtrack plays in the background, “All my hope is in Jesus…” I hear the soft melody and words of truth, then runaway thoughts scroll across the screen like endless credits.
Credit to the hurt
Credit to the past
Credit to the enemy
Credit to a shattered future
My thoughts consume me. I try taking them captive, but man, they’re slippery. All day I push them down but just before daybreak they pop to the surface like a cork – or more like a corpse. It’s a wonder I can sleep at all. Would somebody please turn up the volume?
“All my hope is in Jesus…”
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Time for change
When negative thoughts bubble to the surface I sometimes blurt out to myself, “STOP!” Which is rather problematic when I’m in the grocery store. Other times I recite scripture to bring my thoughts in line with the word, but my mind is prone to wander to a lost place. If I indulge my thoughts for one second, then down the slide I go, headlong into the dirt to darkness where I can’t see through the mud or hear God’s voice through the debris. My thoughts got me here, my thoughts can take me out. It’s time to change direction.
Change your mind by changing your thoughts
“And so, Lord where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7 NLT
Where does this lead?
Ever let your thoughts turn in the direction of a destination you don’t want to reach? Now I’m not very good with directions, but I know if I turn left out of my driveway and right onto Main Street I’ll be at my office in less than 5 miles. It won’t be any different tomorrow or the next day. Following the same ol’ pathway only wears the cerebral groove deeper. The downhill road becomes an easy track to the same unwanted destination. Why am I here again?
As the credits roll around in my head, I can’t concentrate and a million nothings distract me. I can’t even gather my mind into one place. What’s a girl to do with a mind like that?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 HCSB
Wholeness
Capture your thoughts, then never set them loose. Say no to the temptation to peek at your wounds and hurts. Let them heal. God equips our minds.
Don't let your thoughts consume you #focus Click To Tweet“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 13:10 MSG
How to stop letting your mind wander
Focus, focus, focus. Preach the truth to yourself and sing it, out loud, “All my hope is in Jesus...” Turn wayward thoughts to prayers then shift gears to praise therapy. If you focus on your problems, well then, you are focused on your problems. Train your mind to focus on God and His character. Sacrifice your desires on the altar of praise. God’s word is the road map; He knows the way out, follow Him
Don’t look back, you’re not going there
Wonderful words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing GOD’S WORD in such a powerful way. We TRUST HIM, because HE is faithful. Have a blessed day!
He is faithful indeed
Thanks for sharing your struggles and the way to victory. We all have things that return to taunt us, yet we also have powerful weapons to combat them. I love scripture songs because they lift our spirits as they remind us of our Savior’s faithfulness.
Mighty weapons for sure. Thanks
I’ve been in your place, God will work with you. Wow, is he ever faithful. I sang songs in my head, had mantras, like you. Mine was a sing song, thank you God for loving me, thank you God for saving my soul, hallelujah. Over and over. I memorized scripture and watched as my head filled with the things of God I intentionally placed there. It took time. Keep leaning into Him and helping others. You’ll be amazed at where He is taking you.
Thanks for the encouragement from someone who has walked this road. It’s really a blessing to know the Lord in ways I never would have experienced
“Following the same ol’ pathway only wears the cerebral groove deeper.” This hit me like a ton of bricks— in a good way.
Knocking you outta the rut!
The mind is a powerful thing. Renewing our mind with God’s truth and learning to cast down the thoughts that contradict His truth is such a necessary key to victory!
It’s a learning process for sure. You are right, truth is the key