Many Christians struggle with unhealthy or sinful thoughts and feelings. Like thoughts and feelings of guilt, worthlessness, anger, lust, worry etc.
The Bible tells us how to overcome destructive thoughts like these.
Cast sinful or unhealthy thoughts down and put them under subjection to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
How to do this:
Command the thought to go away in the Name of Jesus Christ
This is the initial casting down and subjecting the bad thought to the obedience of Christ.
As Christians we have power over sin and the Devil in the Name of Jesus. Most bad thoughts are just lies that the Devil is telling us, especially when it comes to self destructive thoughts like guilt or worthlessness.
The Devil wants to destroy us. the Bible says that he walks around like a lion looking for people to devour. ( 1 Peter 5:8) He does not want us to be joyful Christians, so he will whisper many lies into our ears to make us sad.
We do not have to suffer his torments!
We have the power in the Name of Jesus to cast down Satan’s lies and him. Just command them to leave in the name of Jesus.
John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
Then pray and ask God to keep bad thoughts away.
John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.“
John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
1John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.“
James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
it is God’s will for our joy to be full, so He will keep bad thoughts away, if we ask Him too, and believe that He will.
Then replace the bad thoughts with good thoughts
Here are 3 easy ways to do this:
1. Claim God’s promises:
If you are struggling with guilt:
Remember if you have repented, then God has forgiven you, and He will never mention your sin, not even on judgment day.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession includes repentance. See my post on 1 John 1:9 at http://shiningthelightministries.com/2022/03/29/1john-19/
1 Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
Judging ourselves means that we repent of our sin before God has to judge us. Not that we punish ourselves or keep telling ourselves how bad we are. Once we repent we need to believe that God has forgiven us and then forgive ourselves, and move on with our lives serving God.
Ezekiel 18:21-22 “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.”
1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Justified means: Just As If I’d Never Sinned.
If God has justified us, and He is not going to mention our sins again, we should not rebuke ourselves for them anymore either.
If you are struggling with thoughts of worthlessness:
Remember God loves you, and you are so valuable to Him that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you to save you. As Christians, God says we are his children, we are more than conquerors, and we are royalty!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Abba in Hebrew is an endearing term like “Daddy.”
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
So hold your head up and live a holy and joyful life like the priest and the king or queen God says you are.
If you are struggling with thoughts of anger:
Remember not all anger is sin, but it becomes sin if we dwell on it too long. The Bible says that we are to forgive and get rid of our anger before the sun goes down that day.
Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
Furthermore, we must forgive others in order for God to forgive us.
Luke 6:35-37 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
Now, forgiveness does not equal trust. Forgiveness means you are no longer angry with the person. It means you do not hold a grudge against them. However, if the person is a danger to you or others you need to put up barriers to keep yourself and others safe from them.
Also, remember that God will avenge you.
Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
If you are struggling with immoral thoughts:
Remember we have power over sin in the Name of Jesus, and God promises to give us what we ask for according to His will. It is God’s will for us to have pure minds. Command the sinful thoughts to go away in the Name of Jesus and Pray and ask God to renew your mind and keep sinful thoughts out.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
James 1:5-8 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
If you are struggling with worry:
Remember if you are saved God will never leave you and He cares for you. Furthermore, if you are striving to live for Him and are giving to others then He will meet your needs.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Philippians 4:16-19 “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
2. Sing and Praise God
Listening to Christian music and singing Christian songs will help you to keep your mind on God. If you keep your mind on God, it is much harder for sinful or unhealthy thoughts to come in.
Ephesians 5:19-20 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Writing a list of your blessings will also help you to have an attitude of thankfulness.
3. Help others
Getting your mind off of yourself and helping others is a great way to keep bad thoughts away.
Romans 15:2 “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
4. Think about good things
Actively thinking about good things will help keep bad thoughts away.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
God wants us to be joyful and have pure minds. By following these steps you can achieve that.