Find freedom from negative thinking & take authority over your thoughts. Learn 7 practical keys to renew your mind for peace, love, & joy.
Do you feel like your mind is constantly flooded with negative thoughts that seem impossible to control?
Are you tired of feeling like your mind is in chaos, and wish you could take back control of your thoughts?
Many people battle recurring negative thoughts, whether it’s self-doubt, fear, or anxiety. These thoughts can feel overwhelming and unshakeable, leaving them feeling defeated and trapped.
Additionally, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel like your thoughts are spiraling out of control, leading to stress, confusion, and frustration.
What if I told you that you have the God-given authority to take control over your thoughts and experience lasting peace?
You can learn how to stop the cycle of toxic thoughts and start living in the freedom and peace that comes from renewing your mind.
Healthy Thoughts Create A Healthy Life
For as a man thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).
Just as healthy vitamins and minerals are the essential building blocks for physical health. The most important building block for our ongoing spiritual growth and health: our thoughts.
Our thoughts are like the sap that flows into every part of a tree. Thoughts flow from our heart into our words, actions, and behaviors.
The thoughts we embrace in our hearts shape our lives.
These thoughts influence who we are, how we live, and the kind of fruit we bear in the world.
Thus, the fruit in our life grows from the thoughts we think —whether they are thoughts of peace, love, joy, faith, and gratitude, or fear, anxiety, rejection, and apathy.
If your thoughts are not peace, love, and joy, what can you do?
We will explore how you can take authority over your mind and take control of your thoughts.
Where In The Bible Does It Say Take Authority Over Your Thoughts?
One key verse that speaks to this is 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB):
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
To “take every thought captive” means we have the authority to capture and submit every thought to Jesus.
It’s an intentional process that involves recognizing thoughts that don’t align with God’s Word and choosing to replace them with His truth.
What Does The Bible Say About Controlling Your Thoughts?
The Bible encourages us to focus our thoughts on things that are pure, true, and praiseworthy.
Philippians 4:8 specifically tells us what to think about,
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.“
This verse gives us a guide for the kind of thoughts we should think—thoughts of peace, love, and joy.
Ephesians 4:23 also exhorts us, “you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.”
Romans 8: 5 tells us, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit” (NLT).
How Can I Take Control Of My Thoughts?
Jesus’s sacrifice gives us back what our first parents gave away!
We have new life, renewed access to our Creator Father, and also renewed authority!
You have authority over your life—you just have to take it! And exercise it!
So, to take control of your thoughts will take a blend of strategies because our minds are the battleground for satan’s tactics.
Here are a few keys to keep in mind.
1. Not Every Thought is Your Own
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
Because you were created a child of God, in the image of God, and with His breath in your lungs, satan wants to take you out. He hates God. He hates you.
The main area satan tries to stop you from living life to the fullest extent possible is in the area of our minds.
Our minds are the battlefield.
If satan can affect our thoughts and the way we think, he can hinder us greatly, or even incapacitate us!
However, it is important to understand that not every thought that crosses our minds comes from us or from God.
Satan can influence our thinking or send hindering spirits our way to harass us.
We can be barraged with thoughts that are not our own.
And many of us haven’t yet learned to discern the origin of our thoughts—whether they come from God, from our own desires, or even from the enemy.
We can learn to discern where our thoughts come from!
Our thoughts may come from our own spirit, soul, or body, or from God, or satan, or the angels (haha, does that stretch you?).
We can learn to align our thoughts with our Lord’s thoughts with the tips below!
2. You Have Authority Over Your Thought Life
“Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds.” ~ possibly William Wordsworth
In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve authority over their own lives not just over the creatures and the earth (Genesis 1:28).
God gave them choice and authority over their life garden.
Likewise, God has given you authority over yourself and your life garden.
Just as they were commissioned to watch over and guard the garden life, we are also called to watch over and guard our mind garden.
The enemy came to sabotage Adam and Eve with a suggestion of doubt and ingratitude.
“Has God really said?” “He couldn’t possibly mean that?” “He is keeping things from you.” “You deserve more. I can give you more.”
But God gave them authority to choose what to think and believe!
Unfortunately, they allowed the serpent’s voice to enter their minds, and as a result, they acted on thoughts that led them away from their Creator Father.
3. Practice Hearing God’s Voice and Thoughts
It only takes a mustard-sized seed of faith to move mountains.
However, the enemy also tries to sow mustard-sized seeds of doubt, fear, confusion, envy, dissatisfaction, judgement, etc.
Each of these small seeds has the potential to grow into a large tree!
That’s why it’s vital to recognize which thoughts do not come from God or line up with His ways.
But how can we align our thoughts to God’s if we don’t know what He is saying? How can we hear God’s voice if our minds are cluttered with noise and confusion?
God can (and might) speak to you in an audible voice, but more than likely He will speak to your mind through your thoughts. So, it is important to be able to discern His voice AND hear Him through the noise of life. We can quickly ask God for God’s instructions and strategies when we need them. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble!
You can learn more about what God’s voice sounds like here.
The world around us is full of voices—family, bosses, marketers, media, and all sorts of social influences—that all try to dictate what we think.
Then there are also supernatural voices as well. It can get pretty noisy in our heads, sometimes.
Learn how to still your mind to find peace.
4. Take Authority Over Your Thoughts With Prayer
“Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
The most powerful proactive strategy for protecting our thought life is prayer. Jesus told the disciples to keep watch and pray.
Mostly we want to do the right things, but our flesh is weak. We gain His strength in prayer.
This is why The Lord’s Prayer directs us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
It is important to pray for God’s guidance and ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern and filter out negative, harmful thoughts. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn out complicated prayer.
A simple “help” works wonders.
In that moment we are turning to our Creator Father in sincere humility and trusting His goodness for help in our time of need.
He will bring help in one way or another, either immediately, or eventually!
5. Use Scripture to Overcome Chaotic Negative Thoughts
Jesus modeled how to take authority over our thoughts during His time of temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Each time Satan tried to deceive Him with enticing thoughts, Jesus responded immediately with Scripture.
He didn’t entertain the enemy’s lies but stood firmly on the truth of God’s Word. Instead of allowing those thoughts to take root, He used Scripture as His defense (Matthew 4:1-11).
Now, you might think, “But I’m not Jesus!” And yes, it’s true that we sometimes get caught off guard.
But imagine if Jesus hadn’t known the Word of God. How different would His response have been?
That’s why knowing and using Scripture is essential for us too.
Use Scripture Replacement Strategy to Renew Your Mind
One powerful way to combat negative thoughts is through a Scripture replacement strategy.
This means replacing those harmful thoughts with verses that speak truth.
For example, when fear or anxiety creeps in, you can meditate on and memorize verses that address these struggles.
You can strengthen your mind by speaking God’s promises over your life and declaring them when negative thoughts arise.
The more you fill your mind with God’s truth, the easier it becomes to reject harmful thoughts and stay grounded in His peace.
We can quickly ask God for His words when we need them. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble!
In my experience, when we are full of the Word of God, well it just sort of comes out when we need it.
Unfortunately, the problem is we just don’t get enough of God’s words in our systems to stay healthy and whole, much less grow spiritually.
We may need to add supplements, just like I am having to add calcium vitamins to my vitamin regimen.
6. Practice Taking Authority Over Your Thoughts
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
In today’s world, if we don’t control what we think, someone else will.
Marketers, media, and even our own past experiences can fill our minds with fear, anxiety, and distraction.
But we don’t have to live that way.
We can actively choose to dwell on what is good and take authority over our thoughts, just as God intended. This means curating your social media feed!
Remember, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Let’s practice taking control of our thoughts and renew our minds daily in God’s Word.
Then we will live in the freedom, peace, and authority He has given us.
If we don’t control our minds we don’t control anything. ~Tony Robbins
7. More Practical Habits to Help Take Authority Over Your Thoughts
If you want to grow spiritually, decide towork on improving your thoughts and make some new habits.
We fail many times because we do not establish new habits. We feel motivated in a moment but lack the tenacity to persevere.
However, if you make a new habit that becomes as familiar as brushing your teeth, there will be no question about succeeding.
If you get on the right path, you will reach the right destination.
Make a new habit in your thought processes.
The following are some more examples of practical things you can do to renew your mind.
Think About Your Thoughts. Start thinking about what you think about. Reflect on events of the day and try to determine where the origin of your thoughts from the day. Maybe start a journal to record your thoughts.
Ask God About a New Habit. Ask God to show you what you need to add to your life and how to add it. Ask what needs to be subtracted from your life and how to subtract it.
Feed and Strengthen Your Body. The mind, spirit, and body are connected. If you are sick, you are not in the state of mind to listen and follow God’s whispers. Make taking care of your physical temple a priority.
Practice Being Thankful. Thankfulness is akin to praise which ushers us into His presence. You can’t be grateful and offended at the same time. You can’t be grateful and angry at the same time. You can’t be thankful and bitter at the same time. Maybe start a gratitude journal. See also: The Power of Gratitude: 7 Benefits for Spiritual Growth
Give More Than You Receive. I know it is easy to get stuck thinking about our problems, our lack, what we want, and what we deserve, without considering others. We get in this spiral and keep going down. However, in God’s kingdom the secret to successful living is giving. When we give from our hearts in love, our spirit remembers who we are as a royal child of the Most High God! We were created in love to give love! Maybe help a neighbor today.
Pursue Hearing God’s Voice & Presence. You may hear God on occasion, yet it is important to continue pursuing Him until you can live in unbroken communion with Him 24/7. You can read about what God’s voice sounds like and learn how to confidently hear Him and learn to feel His presence more frequently and easily with my new book, How to Practice The Presence of God.
Your writing is a light in the darkness. Thank you for guiding me and so many others toward a deeper understanding of spiritual growth.