Tag: problems

Conquering Bad Thoughts

Conquering Bad Thoughts

Our mind is a battlefield where silent battles are fought daily. In our mind we can hide our thoughts and walk about our life without others knowing any of our thoughts. The enemy, Satan, can whisper lies to us that will swim around in the fish bowl of our mind until we begin to believe them. Once our thoughts have been established, then we begin to change… that is why we must be vigilant about conquering bad thoughts.

Wrong thoughts generally begin with “little” thoughts of:

  • Discontentment
  • Unthankfulness
  • Jealousy
  • Unfaithfulness to God, spouse, or children
  • Quitting church
  • Walking away from God
  • Prideful and self-exalting thoughts
  • Any other type of sinful thought that goes against scripture

Why are bad thoughts bad?

Because wrong thoughts turn into wrong actions.

Evil thoughts are listed with murder, adultery, and theft in Matthew 15:18-20. Someone does not kill, steal, or commit adultery without first thinking about it. That is why we must learn to conquer bad thoughts!

Conquering Bad Thoughts Dynamic 1

How to Conquer Bad Thoughts

1. Slay wrong and sinful thoughts immediately by casting them down.

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. II Corinthians 10:5

If Satan can infiltrate your thoughts subtly then his goal is to get you to compromise Biblical standards and ruin God’s testimony through your life. His tactics are to render you useless for God’s purposes. When you realize that you have a sinful thought it must be brought into the obedience of Christ immediately.

Example: If the thought of being unfaithful to your spouse comes into your mind, you can quickly bring it into captivity by saying to yourself or out loud, “I am not going to commit adultery even in my mind. Marriage is honorable in all things.” Quoting scripture is the best way to bring your thoughts into the obedience of Christ. If the thought is about abusing prescription drugs  to run away from life’s problems, then bring it into captivity by reminding yourself that your body is the temple of the Lord, not for abusing drugs. You may have to cast down wicked imaginations repeatedly throughout your day.

2. Pray. Go to God with your thoughts and ask Him to take them from you.

Ephesians 6:18a Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…

Disobedient and wrong thoughts are not wicked in and of themselves, it is when we begin to entertain the thoughts, agree with them, and validate them as truth so that we can justify wrong and sinful behavior. God understands that we will be tempted to do wrong things, but He also understands the source has originated because of spiritual warfare. God gives us the choice to choose to go to Him to fight our battles or He will allow us to fight them in our flesh.

In time our flesh will fail us, that is why it is so beneficial to go right to THE source for our help in prayer.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The battle in your mind is against principalities and evil. Humble prayer to God brings you into submission to Him for the answers and help for bad thoughts. God wants us to pray always and be dependent upon Him for our help, because where we are weak, He is strong.

3. Think Godly Thoughts.

To remove bad or wicked thoughts from your mind you must replace them with godly thoughts.

This is a simple principle that is used in Biblical counseling, sins must be replaced with something biblical and godly.

God has an entire list of wonderful things He wants us to think about to replace bad thoughts in 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 or praise, think on these things.

You may need to take a few minutes and write a list of things in your life that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. Thinking of the blessings of God has given to us will drive away wrong thoughts so we can show forth praise to Him and allow us to live in victory.

4. Put on the Whole Armor of God.

We must be guarded spiritually by the armor that we put on every day. Ephesians 6:13-17 is an entire study by itself, explaining the spiritual armor of a Christian.

God wants us to have:

  • Loins girt with Truth
  • The Breastplate of Righteousness
  • Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God)

When you’re in the battle of your mind you can dress yourself in the armor of God or simply go to Ephesians 6 and read it asking yourself, “Do I have loins girt with truth?” “Am I putting on God’s righteousness instead of my own?” “Am I ready to give the gospel of peace to any person that may ask?” “Am I full of faith, wearing the helmet of salvation, and ready to conquer bad thoughts with the Sword of the Spirit?”

Give yourself a self-evaluation. The Holy Spirit will point out what you need to work on and enable you to stand strong against any type of thought that would hinder your relationship with God.

Pay attention and guard yourself as you notice what things in your life trigger thoughts that are not godly. Be ready for the battle of the mind to come against you on a daily basis, run to God for help in prayer, and deal with the bad thoughts accordingly. Do not allow them to conquer you, be ready to conquer them first!

The Difference Between Resting & Quitting

The Difference Between Resting and Quitting

Quitting isn’t always for losers, it is usually the sign of a weary or worldly soldier of Christ. There is a definite difference between quitting and resting. One of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of this topic is a note that someone wrote to a pastor friend in the yearbook when he graduated with his Master’s degree. The last line of the note said, “Remember, sometimes you must rest a while, but just don’t quit.” Even years later I remember that one line. God has used it to help me, and I pray He will also use it to help you.

Let’s take a look at some Bible quitters:

  • Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. (2 Timothy 4:10)
  • John Mark left his work at some point in his ministry and the apostle Paul was so frustrated that he was not willing to take him along with him again in Acts 15.
  • All of the disciples forsook Christ and fled when Christ was arrested. (Mark 14:50)

But before we judge too harshly, let’s admit that the thought has probably crossed our mind once or twice, or really maybe on some days once or twice an hour.

Quitting for the wrong reasons usually involves one or more of the following:

  1. Not allowing God’s Word to be the greatest influence in your life.
  2. Forsaking godly counsel.
  3. Walking away from a commitment or vow you made to the Lord.
  4. Listening to and believing lies Satan whispers to you about God and His work.
  5. A love for the things of the world, rather than heavenly things.
  6. Lust and covetousness.
  7. Disregarding the Holy Spirit’s convictions and God’s warning signs keeping you from quitting.
  8. An attitude of ungratefulness.
  9. Selfish motives.
  10. Following men rather than God.
  11. Accepting praise that belongs to God alone.
  12. Looking at people instead of the Heavenly Father.
  13. Unforgiveness and bitterness.
  14. Blocking your ears and heart from hearing Christ-centered preaching.
  15. Lowering your Biblical standards and substituting them with worldly practices.
  16. Replacing godly friends with friends that have lower standards and values.
  17. Discontentment with your current ministry and comparison with other ministries.
  18. Stiffening your neck and being disobedient.

Quitting does not usually happen over night without some warning signs. Almost all of us have seen someone slowly slip away. People, even those in ministry, do not normally jump off ship and run away to the Bahamas with a hot babe that isn’t their spouse in a day.

Satan and the flesh can work against you if you let it and before you know it you can be just a statistic or a vessel set on the shelf by God with no earthly use because you have laid down your sword and abandon the call of God on your life and quit.

The responsibility and accountability are up to us. We must see these warning signs creeping up in our lives and not allow the temptation to quit on God, our family, and our ministry become thoughts we dwell on.

So, if you’re weary and you’re tired and you realize that you just feel so overwhelmed because your ministry is not doing what you think it should when you think it should, then REST!

Resting for the right reasons usually involves:

  1. A temporary time of recharge.
  2. The Holy Spirit’s call and moving.
  3. Changes (small or large) to restore the relationships in your family.
  4. More time to be able to seek God’s perfect will for your life.
  5. Bible reading and searching for God’s answers.
  6. More prayer.
  7. Godly counsel and advice from trusted friends and mentors.
  8. Serving God without large amounts of responsibility.
  9. Quality time with your family.
  10. Listening to Christ-centered preaching and music.
  11. Vacation!!
  12. Purposeful planning for the future including ministry plans and other family-oriented plans.
  13. Unplugging from ministerial responsibility and pursuing hobbies and other things you enjoy.
  14. Reconnecting with other ministry friends and sharpening one another through good encouraging communication. (Call or visit them!)

God did all of His work in the work of Creation and guess what!? HE RESTED!! There is no shame in taking a break or even a nap! While we know that some people may need a longer period of rest than others, we should be understanding and encouraging to them during that time.

Go to God for your rest, it is one of the many benefits to being a Christian.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Rest will do your body, soul, and spirit good! Just do it! It’s better than the alternative!

P.S. Later in scripture John Mark was counted worthy again by call for the work of the ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11) So, even if you have quit, you may not be able to be restored to the position you once had, but God can still use your life!

Spiritual Remedies for Family Bitterness

Spiritual Remedies for Family Bitterness (click here to read article)

Bitterness is a spiritual problem that can effect your relationship not only with your spouse but with the other members of your family. Over at YoungWifesGuide.com my article is about Biblical remedies from Ephesians 4 on how to cure family bitterness.

Spiritual Remedies for Family Bitterness

This article reveals six dangers of family bitterness and Biblical solutions on how to make the right decision to resolve family conflict and avoid the common problem of unforgiveness and unresolved issues. While we cannot control what other people in our families do, we can control ourselves with God’s help. God is so good to allow us to have solutions from His Word on every day topics like this one.

I appreciate the opportunity, as always, to be a monthly contributor to YoungWifesGuide! Thank you to Jami Balmet for making it a great website and place for Christian women to learn from each other.