Stop Spiraling Thoughts
Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that - thoughts. - Allan Lokos
Have you ever had a thought about something small and then that thought spirals into the worst-case scenario and before you know it, you’ve created an entire story in your mind that is completely false from the reality you are in?
I certainly have. And I’ve noticed a trend that often, thoughts take me captive rather than me taking them captive, and next thing I know, I’m on a wild wide of spiraling thoughts. From there, those thoughts turn into action.
The key to transforming your spiraling thoughts is: Capturing and filtering thoughts with God’s mindset. Reading this and praying the prayer below will help you get ready for this modern-day advent preparation. This will improve your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Give yourself permission to care for your health with this daily practice - capturing your thoughts and filtering them through God’s Word. It will prepare you for the birth of our Lord and Saviors birthday which will be here soon!
Back to our thoughts…a fearful thought for example could spiral into a belief that your situation is way worse than it is, leading you to decide to act based on a fear that came from a simple thought. You’ve traveled down the “what if” path as I call it and are paddling a million miles an hour in your own strength (Duck Syndrome). And thoughts my friends, are not real. A thought is not tangible, yet we can turn it into an actual reality by our actions if we allow our thoughts to spiral.
So how do we stop the thought before it spirals into action? Paul knew that the Corinthians could easily be led away from the truth of the gospel, just like we can be easily led astray by one thought ourselves. He encouraged them to pull down those thoughts that have been established in their minds that is anything other than truth, by making every thought obedient to Christ.
To take every thought captive, we must first be aware of our thoughts. The enemy is loving the culture we are in today because we live in a world full of distractions where thoughts are thrown at us at every turn without even recognizing it. We must wake up and look around and pay attention to the thoughts we allow in our minds. We must guard and shut the gates to our minds and kick out the thoughts that no longer belong there.
If you are feeling anxious, ask yourself what the thought behind that feeling is and kick it out. If you are feeling overwhelmed, insecure, sad, angry, or afraid – take the time to get figure out the through that is behind the reason you are feeling this way. Read Philippians 4: 4-20. In verse 6 and 7 we are reminded to pray about everything to get God’s peace. He then tells us what to think about instead of our worries in verse 8 and to be anxious for nothing in verse 13. We need to ask Paul wrote (under Gods inspiration) that we must take that thought and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.Surrender it to Him, releasing it into His hands. This is something we as believers may practice daily, hourly, and sometimes minute by minute.
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
Remember, we have the power to demolish these thoughts full of lies from the enemy, so stand up, and be victorious kicking any thoughts out that are not from the Lord and begin to be the one that takes over spiraling thoughts before they take over you.
Let’s pray.
Dear God,
Thank you, Lord, that you didn’t leave us empty-handed to roam this earth aimlessly. Thank you for your Word that you left us with. Thank you for Scripture and the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us. And we thank you for today’s verse from Paul reminding us that we have the power to demolish all the lies we have believed that leave us spiraling. Lord, we ask that you would prompt us to a full awareness of what we let enter our mind. Help us in these moments of fleeting thoughts entering our mind, to discern whether they are a truth or a lie. Bring to our attention some of the actions we have done in our life as a result of a thought that does not glorify you and your truth. Forgive us for those times we have believed thoughts that are not from you, rather than believe in your truth. We ask for your strength to rid ourselves of all the thoughts that are lies, so we can fill ourselves up with more of your truth. We love you, Lord and put our thoughts on you and your goodness.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen