H.E.Y friend! Felt like this was such a fitting topic to talk about with you all this week! If you’re a bit of a nut when it comes to things whizzing through your mind, then this is defffffinitely something you’ll get on board with today!

All in all, words are definitely powerful when spoken over someone, but our thoughts are even more powerful. SERIOUSLY! I mean it! After all, how often throughout the day do you have an inner dialogue going on inside of your head? Perhaps it goes a little something like this…

“There is so much I need to study! I’ll never be able to catch up and pass my tests! At this rate, I’ll never amount to anything.”

Or perhaps it goes a little something like this…

“Oh no. Did I say something wrong? The person that I am talking to looks unhappy – I must have done something bad! Why am I so unlikeable?”

Or may you find yourself thinking something along the lines of this…

“Lucy looks like she has the perfect life! If only I had her life, then I would be happy!”

Our thoughts are powerful things because they have the capabilities to influence and shape our behaviour, and when we allow such thoughts to enter our minds, we, in turn, begin behaving in ways that aren’t of God.

The truth of the matter is, the devil is real. And he is one sneaky being. He knows how powerful our own thoughts can be – and as a result, sometimes he infiltrates our minds by trying to feed it with lies.

This can be an extremely dangerous thing when we can’t discern the truth. When we don’t know the truth, we can’t recognise the lies. And the only way we can know the truth, is through knowing and understanding our Father and what He has said through having a deep and intimate relationship with Him!

So in those moments where our thoughts are plaguing our minds, how do we overcome negative thoughts as a Christian and keep those thoughts captive?

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What Does the Bible Say About Our Thoughts?

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Breaking down this verse by verse, we see Paul writing in his letter that even though we all live in this world, the battle that we are fighting is not a physical one but a spiritual one.

In Ephesians 6, Paul lists the spiritual weapons he used: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). And the only way to rely on these weapons would be to place faith in God. Because outward force is not the method of the gospel, but by the power of truth and the meekness of wisdom.

The stronghold that is mentioned in this context talks about wrong thoughts and perceptions. It is referring to what contradicts God’s truths and contradicts who He is. So, whenever we begin to experience the thoughts of ourselves or of others that are not a reflection of who Christ is, we need to immediately take note of our thoughts and stop it. We need to hand control over them to Jesus, and not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

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Click the image below to grab your FREE, beautifully designed printable Capture ’em Negative Thoughts Journal!

How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian and Take Every Thought Captive

#1 How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian: Pay Attention to the Thoughts that Run Through Your Mind

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. – Colossians 2:8

Every single time something crosses your mind, do you let it sit and manifest itself until it becomes a stronghold, or do you take note of the thought? Sometimes we can be so completely unaware of what comes through our minds because we don’t really pay attention. In fact, with so much noise from the outside world, it is so easy for things to enter into our minds and take over. So it is not only important to pay attention to the thoughts that are running through our minds and actively taking note of what they are, but being more actively aware of what we allow to have influence over our thoughts!

#2 How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian: Intimately Know the Word and Test Every Thought

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. – Romans 12:2

When we have an intimate relationship with our Father, we will be able to easily discern the lies that are infiltrating our minds and be able to replace them with the truth. However, in order to do that, we must know Him. And to know Him means to spend quality quiet time with Him! One of the best ways to know exactly what He wants to say to you is to consistently spend time with Him and read His Word.

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#3 How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian: Proclaim Truth Over Your Thoughts

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. – James 1:18

The next time a thought comes over you, and you know that it is a lie and His corresponding truth that will set you free, it is time to begin proclaiming these truths over your life! Speak those verses that you know to be the truth and speak them over yourself with authority. Even if you don’t believe those truths yet, proclaim these truths aloud as often as you need to until you believe them. Do whatever you have to do to capture every thought captive and replace the lies in your head with God’s truth.

Click the image below to grab your FREE, beautifully designed printable Capture ’em Negative Thoughts Journal!

#4 How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian: Bring Your Thoughts to the Foot of the Cross

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. – Hebrews 7:25

Once you have done all that, trust in the Lord and bring all your thoughts to the foot of the cross. You are not your thoughts. Your true God-given identity does not lie on who your thoughts tell you that you are. So take whatever thoughts are going through your mind and bring them to the foot of the cross. Regardless of whether the thoughts are pleasant or not, you are who God says you are. So whatever thoughts pass through, present them all to Him and rest in full comfort knowing that you have the best messenger to cast all your thoughts to God.

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#5 How to Overcome Negative Thoughts as a Christian: Trust Your God, and Not Your Feelings

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. – Proverbs 28:26

There is never a quick answer on how to overcome negative thoughts as a Christian, but as soon as you take every thought captive and begin replacing those lies with the truth, you will gradually begin to believe it fully. However, until that day comes, trust in your God who is immovable, unshakeable, and infallible. Trust Him to anchor you. Don’t let your ever-fluctuating feelings be what you rest upon, but the promises of Him!

Hey! Here Are Other Resources…

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Before You Go!

Don’t forget to grab your FREE beautifully designed printable Capture ’em Negative Thoughts Journal!

There is never an easy way on how to overcome negative thoughts as a Christian, but this is a spiritual battle that you have already won. You just need to take a hold of the victory! You are loved, seen and valued by the One who created you! So I pray that the spark of fire in your soul will continue to light up so that you will always passionately chase after truth!

What about you? Do you struggle with thoughts that seem to pop out of nowhere? How do you capture them captive when they arise? Drop a comment below and let me know and let’s start a discussion!

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Don’t forget to follow the Girls After Truth Instagram account for faith-filled hand-lettering + art, daily devotionals and a sneak peek behind-the-scenes look into the ministry life <3 And use the hashtag #girlsaftertruth to get connected!

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Hope to see ya there!

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