Unwanted Intrusive thoughts are just that, unwanted. But where are they coming from and how do we stop them?

They can cause distress, since the nature of the thought might be upsetting. They come more often and can get worse if not dealt with.

I have heard many confessions of abuse or violence starting with the person thinking of an act before acting on it. They maybe be thoughts of a sexual nature, including fantasies. They can also be about behaviors you find unacceptable and abhorrent. 

Some experts say these thoughts are just thoughts. They appear out of nowhere and cause anxiety, but they have no meaning in your life. They’re not warning messages or red flags. They’re simply thoughts.

But I want you to see what the Bible says about thoughts. How our thoughts and the meditation on things can shape our actions.

Instead of letting your thoughts causing you to become ashamed and making you withdraw from others just to keep them a secret we need to redirect our pattern of thinking.

Thoughts can turn into actions good or bad. You have probably heard about it in a serial killers confession, but also in the confession of an inventor or a well thought out plan of your future.

Thoughts And The Mind According to the scriptures. God created your mind He knows how it works. He also how’s you have an enemy at work to destroy you. Your success in gaining control over your mind puts the devils plan to flight.

But if you are not surrendered to Christ you have no help from Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24 To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

We all need help everyday with all of life’s

challenges. With a surrendered heart to God you have access to all the answers you need to fight thoughts that are not of God.
Read this :

Now you have access to the tools to understand why you should take control of your thinking. Read with me some scriptures that explains how we can order our thinking.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Every thought is not from God , or even from your own mind. So to examine everything is to allow what is good, or of God and if it’s against the Word or will of God, we reject it. Rejecting a thought is as simple as saying out loud the Word of God concerning the thought.

Here’s an example: you are standing on a balcony looking at a beautiful view, a thought comes and says clearly jump! That thought of suicide is obviously not God‘s plan for your life. You were not even feeling depressed.
But now you have a choice. You can say,”oh my gosh I must be feeling depressed, I’m thinking of suicide, I want to kill myself!” That’s actually excepting the thought.

Or you could recognize that thought is not of God, and say, “ i’m not stupid, I’m not gonna jump you jump!“ You just stopped a horrible thing from happening!

If this wasn’t a real problem then God wouldn’t have so much to say about it in the Bible. God always gives us weapons to fight against the enemy read the Scriptures:

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Isaiah 26:3 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

We can have control over our minds and our thoughts. In the scripture you will read that God gives us control. He wants us to guard ourselves by what we are allowing to get in our hearts by what you’re watching , what you’re listening to , and what you’re saying out your own mouth.

Philippians 4:4-9 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. …

2 Timothy 1:7 

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Proverbs 4:23 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

James 1:8 

He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Romans 12:1-2 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

What conditions have developed by not gaining control of intrusive thoughts?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Can occur when intrusive thoughts become uncontrolled and you repeat behaviors in the hope that you can end the thoughts. Example is allowing worry about locking doors and turning off ovens or fearing bacteria on surfaces.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

People living with a memory of a traumatic event. These thoughts may trigger some of the physical pain you had in the actual event. You can gain control and recognize you are safe now, can move towards letting your heart heal.

Eating disorders

People who have developed a poor self image experience intrusive thoughts that are harmful to their physical health. Understanding who God is and how He sees you is important to how you care for yourself.

We need to be told the truth about thoughts. And how powerful they can be if directed by the Word of God. I encourage you to read the Bible and be well informed of how much God loved you, and how He has given you weapons to fight the enemy.

Joshua 1:8

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.