Battle Anxious Thoughts

Taking thoughts captive is a choice.

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Trusting the Lord is not easy. Worries constantly pop up and can form an anxiety loop in your head space. Surrender it. Let God handle it. He certainly is capable. Every time the thought pops up, we have to surrender it again. 

When we have those bad, negative thoughts, Dr. Daniel Amen suggests that you confront it with the question, “Is this negative thought true? Is it absolutely true? How does it make you feel?” Then he says, “what is the opposite of that thought? How does that make you feel?” Dr. Amen’s close, but I would ask, “What does the Bible say is true?” Then when we have those negative thoughts that make us feel icky, go to that Bible verse and consciously choose to surrender it again. Ask, “What does the Bible say I should think about?” Philippians 4:8 says to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, anything excellent and worthy of praise. Psalm 119:52 reminds us that when we think on His Word, we are comforted. Romans 12 encourages us to transform our thinking to think about things God’s way and to think about ourselves as He sees us, in truth, not as we wish to see ourselves, or fancy ourselves, but in humility, think with a sound mind.

Remember to trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not lean and depend on what you understand in this moment. In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM, and He WILL make your paths straight. So claim that promise in Proverbs 3:5-6. Say it every time you have an anxious thought. 

You also battle anxious thoughts by obedience. I’ve found in recent years that I had anxiety because I was walking in the fear of man. It hindered me from being fully obedient without fear of what people thought of me. When I finally started obeying God in this area, instead of being silent out of fear, I found ABUNDANT peace, joy and no longer battled anxiety that came from fearing man more than God.