How do you manage troubling thoughts? They can be anxious thoughts, worry, troubling thoughts about someone, toward someone, anxiety and worry about future events, health issues, a future obligation. Whatever it is, the thoughts don’t go away and continuing to dwell on them is not healthy. Let’s recap some of the passages that I have been using to hlp us manage healthy thoughts. Remember that it is an inside-out process: thoughts -> emotions ->attitudes->behavior.
Romans 12:1-2
(Rom 12:1-2) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Mind renewal is a process that is both a benefit and a responsibility. Romans 6 tells us we have been set free to pursue a new life in Christ. Romans 8 tells us that the Holy Spirit has come to indwell us and empower us so that we can pursue all that God has designed us to pursue. We are free to renew our thoughts.
Philippians 4:4-9 gives us a process of engaging in prayer, thanksgiving, and thought replacement to direct the management of healthy thoughts. This requires practice.
(Phil 4:4-9) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6, reminds us that we have divine power to tear down thoughts and attitudes that have become entrenched and are strongholds. Examining rationalizations and high places (attitudes that we have set up as places of worship) will identify how we have built strong holds.
(2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. {6} And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
For a current troubling thought, I have set a “trigger-thought” that guards and redirects my troubled thought to a healthy thought. My “trigger-thought” is, that issue is in God’s hands to control, just trust Him. He has given me every reason to trust Him. See especially, Matthew 6:25-34. Each time the troublesome thought pops into my mind, I counter it with my “trigger-thought” and then focus my continuing thoughts on healthy thoughts of God’s care for my life. This requires management and practice but what areas of life and growth don’t require management and practice? The result is healthy attitudes, freedom in behavior, and the joy of pleasing the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
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