We all talk to ourselves. Some of us even answer ourselves. And that’s fine. It’s when we start losing the arguments that we may need to be concerned!
Every day thousands of thoughts travel through our minds. Some are sensible. Some helpful. Some ridiculous. And some arrive completely uninvited.
In five minutes we can remember something embarrassing we did fifteen years ago, worry about something that may happen next week, rehearse a conversation that hasn’t happened, and wonder what we’re having for dinner. And we haven’t even got out of bed.
Here is an important truth: don’t believe everything you think.
A thought is not necessarily a fact.
A fear is not necessarily a forecast.
A feeling is not necessarily the truth.
Just because a thought knocks on the door doesn’t mean we have to invite it in, make it coffee and give it the spare bedroom.
Mind Your Mind
The Bible takes our thought-life seriously. Paul writes, ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think’ (Romans 12:2 NLT).
God doesn’t merely want to change what we do. He wants to transform how we think. Thoughts influence attitudes. Attitudes influence actions. Actions become habits. Habits help shape a life. What occupies our mind eventually influences our direction.
Some people are very careful about what they eat but consume mental junk food all day. We check the ingredients on a box of cereal but allow almost anything into our heads!
Perhaps some thoughts need a warning label: ‘Contains worry, comparison, imaginary conversations and very few actual facts. Best avoided before bedtime.’
The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.
Your Mind Can Exaggerate
Have you noticed how dramatic the mind can be?
One thing goes wrong: ‘Everything is going wrong.’
One person criticises us: ‘Everybody thinks I’m useless.’
Someone sends a message: ‘Can we talk?’
Those three words have probably raised blood pressure more than a salty portion of fish and chips.
Suddenly our imagination has produced a three-part TV mini series, complete with villains, disaster and background music.
Jesus said: ‘Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?’ (Matthew 6:27 NLT). Worry cannot change tomorrow, but it can certainly spoil today.
Fear asks, ‘What if?’
Faith asks, ‘Even if, is God still God?’
Worry is imagination without God in the picture.
Jesus Answered the Lie
After Jesus had fasted for forty days in the wilderness, the devil came to tempt him. Notice the strategy: words, suggestions, distortions. ‘If you are the Son of God . . .’
How did Jesus respond? He didn’t debate. He didn’t say, ‘That’s an interesting perspective.’ He answered, ‘The Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:4 NLT).
The devil tried again.
Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures also say, “You must not test the Lord your God”’ (Matthew 4:7 NLT).
A third temptation came.
Again Jesus answered, ‘For the Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him”’ (Matthew 4:10 NLT).
Three temptations; three answers: Scripture, Scripture, Scripture.
Jesus did not answer lies with feelings. He answered them with truth. We cannot stop every lie arriving but we can stop giving it the microphone.
Feelings Are Real . . . But Not Always Reliable
Our feelings matter. God created us with emotions. But feelings make wonderful passengers and terrible drivers. We may feel abandoned. That doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. We may feel hopeless. That doesn’t mean there is no hope. We may feel afraid. That doesn’t mean fear gets to make our decisions.
The psalmist says, ‘Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!’ (Psalm 42:11 NLT). The psalmist doesn’t simply listen to himself. He speaks to himself. Sometimes we need to stop listening to our mind and start preaching to it.
Beware of Imaginary Conversations
I have had some magnificent arguments with people who weren’t there. I won every one. I was eloquent, devastating and completely unanswerable. Sadly, the other person knew nothing about it!
We replay conversations, rewrite conversations and prepare speeches for conversations that may never happen. Imaginary battles produce real exhaustion.
Paul gives us a better focus: ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable’ (Philippians 4:8 NLT).
Notice what comes first: true.
Before asking, ‘How does this make me feel?’ ask, ‘Is it true?’ Truth is one of God’s great medicines for a troubled mind.
The Story We Tell Ourselves
Brené Brown uses a helpful phrase: ‘The story I’m telling myself . . .’ Often it isn’t what happened that troubles us, but the story we construct around it.
Someone walks past without speaking.
Fact: they walked past.
Our interpretation: ‘They ignored me. They don’t like me. I’ve obviously offended them. Come to think of it, they looked unfriendly last week . . .’
Perhaps they simply didn’t see us!
One unanswered email can become a complete rejection narrative before lunchtime. So pause and ask:
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What actually happened?
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What am I assuming?
Never confuse the story in our head with the truth in God’s hands.
When the Story Changes
Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. As a child he endured bullying, loneliness and deep despair. He has spoken openly about reaching such a low point that, aged ten, he attempted to take his own life.
Imagine the thoughts that could have defined him: I’m different. I have no future. Nothing good can come from my life.
But they didn’t get the final word.
Through faith in Christ, Nick discovered a different understanding of his identity and purpose. He went on to travel internationally, speaking to millions about truth, hope and faith. His circumstances did not suddenly become easy, but his perspective changed. He has expressed it memorably: ‘If you can’t get a miracle, become one.’
We should never allow today’s pain to write tomorrow’s story. God sees possibilities where we see limitations.
Take Your Thoughts Captive
Paul writes, ‘We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT).
Capture them. Don’t allow every thought to wander around our mind unsupervised.
Interrogate it. Does it agree with what God has said? Does it lead towards faith, hope, love and obedience?
We need border control for the brain. Not every thought gets a visa. Some need to be told, ‘Entry refused.’
We cannot always control what arrives at the door of our mind, but we can decide what moves in.
Replace the Lie
Christian thinking is not simply trying not to think negative thoughts. Try not thinking about a pink elephant.
There. What are you thinking about?
Exactly.
The biblical pattern is replacement. Replace lies with truth. Fear with faith. Bitterness with forgiveness. Comparison with gratitude. Despair with hope.
‘I am alone.’
God says, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NLT).
‘I cannot cope.’
God says, ‘My grace is all you need’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).
‘There is no way through.’
Scripture says, ‘Nothing will be impossible with God’ (Luke 1:37 ESV).
We don’t defeat darkness by endlessly analysing it. We turn on the light.
Think Again
Perhaps today our greatest battle is not around us but between our ears. A thought has repeated itself for so long that we have started treating it as truth: You’re finished. You’ll never change. God has forgotten you. There is no hope.
Bring that thought into the presence of Jesus and hold it against Scripture. Ask: ‘Is this what God says?’
Jesus answered temptation with Scripture. So can we. Feed our minds with God’s Word. Season them with gratitude. Guard them with prayer. And occasionally tell them to calm down!
A thought is a visitor; we decide whether it becomes a resident. We should never make permanent conclusions from temporary emotions.
So when our mind starts running away with us, perhaps we need to stop, smile and say, ‘Hang on. I know you’re my thought but that doesn’t mean you’re right.’
Don’t believe everything you think. Believe Jesus – he is the Truth. And remember: what enters our mind may influence us, but what we allow to remain there will shape us, so let Jesus have the final word.
J.John
