While Scriptures tell us “Take every thought captive,” (2 Cor.10:5), sometimes negative thoughts creep into our minds, disguised as wise considerations. Often these thoughts are nothing but ruminations over the same concern. Satan has often tempted me with this ploy, and my prayer partner has sometimes alerted me when she realizes I am talking about an old problem over and over as if it were new. Now God is also helping me to recognize when I do this. This is a hidden form of worry, often where my mind urges me to defend myself over matters I really do not need to defend. Please join us as I explore these recycling negative thoughts that produce nothing but fear and wasted time.
One sign that I am falling for this ploy is a sense of distraction. I realize I forgot to put towels in the dryer, or I forgot to work on my Bible memory verses or I didn’t hear a word the pastor says on the Christian radio station I usually enjoy. Another sign I am falling for this trick of Satan and my flesh is my lack of contentment. I may become irritable, impatient, and I may look at life with a bleak attitude.
These worries easily disguise themselves as logical considerations of situations I currently face or may face in the near future. Somehow the thoughts seem just sensible enough that I don’t realize they are only worries and nothing valid. I was recently injured so badly I am limping. Then I worried about whether the doctor would let me have an MRI and any other imaging or even if I could get a referral for a good orthopedic doctor, since the leg is so badly swollen and my hip flexor is so weak and tender. I found myself thinking of ways to defend my need to get the right kind of medical help if the doctor dismissed my pain and swollen leg.
Furthermore, I worried about how we will manage if we need our house tented (since we are currently getting quotes from exterminators who can do localized treatments or tenting.) My husband prefers to go with tenting, and I am still hoping to find a localized, more eco-friendly method. I found myself thinking of ways to defend my desire to use the simpler method of extermination. Then I worried that if my husband insisted we must tent, all my plants must be cut back or tied back, despite my injured leg. How can I do that with such a bad leg and hip? I considered the time away from our house, and the things we may need to take, and about our many pets. I had let myself worry about this, although I did not realize I was worrying. I thought I was just considering all of my options. But I began to realize I was becoming irritable, and I also realized I had “considered my options” so many times, there was nothing new to consider. I had slipped into worry.
The devil has often used this ploy with my friends and me. At first I might legitimately consider a problem and the solutions I need to take. But I fall into sin when I do not invite God to help me either make a decision or set it aside if we need to wait a while (such as for a delayed doctor appointment.) Instead I might keep mulling the concern over in my head without taking action. In fact, I might think about the problem without coming to any decision at all. I also fall for the ploy of thinking I need to explain something to others. I might keep thinking of what they would say and then thinking up what I would say in response. Then I do not feel satisfied, because that kind of thinking never brings satisfaction, because it does not take into account people’s hearts. People who truly love me don’t need me to justify myself before them. And people who oppose me will likely do so, even if I have a legitimate need. Either way I do not need to think up any defense or explanation. I must pray. Then I simply need to tell people what is happening and be done with my conversation.
I know this truth in my logical mind. But when I am tired, Satan stirs up worries, disguising them as needed defenses or needed considerations. So let’s look again at that verse in 2 Cor.10:5. In the NIV it reads, “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.” Let’s look at that verse in other translations. In the ESV, the verse says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Both translations talk about arguments. I might not think I am arguing with God, but if I am not inviting him into my thoughts, I am certainly not agreeing with God. In the ESV, the thoughts are “lofty opinions.” Those thoughts act so lofty as if they are wise, sensible ideas. But if they are not humbled into submission to God, with me asking God for his guidance, then my thoughts are actually lofty, even arrogant.
The funny truth is that when I stop ruminating about whatever concerns me, I can think better. Today I felt very down (due to my injury which may require surgery) until I realized I was ruminating about several concerns I have. They are legitimate concerns, but I have not properly asked God about the situations. So when I reminded myself that God has always provided for me, I also noticed the pastor on the radio (whom I had been ignoring) mentioned a sweet praise song that speaks Of God’s goodness and our adoration for him. He only mentioned that song briefly, but I began to sing the song in my thoughts. As I did, such joy flooded my mind. I was nearly shocked to realize I had gone from thinking, “Today is such a difficult day, and I am sad,” to thinking, “What a great day it is. I am so happy to be alive.” My thoughts changed so quickly when I stopped worrying and began to sing a praise song.
Do my thoughts always change that fast? NO! I sometimes have to process serious grief, and I need to cry. Someone I love may have been hurt or died. I may have been significantly disrespected, even hurt or abused, and I may feel righteous anger, confusion, fear and sorrow. I need to tell God about those strong feelings and about the serious problems that come with those feelings. I cannot always change my feelings so quickly. But today I could change my feelings and thoughts, because my current problems are not huge nor heart breaking. But this is also why Satan could sneak in and fool me with worry. Because my problem was not huge, I was less prone to “bother God” by asking him for guidance.
Sadly, my childhood religious up-bringing came back into play. I was not taught to tell God about every problem and then ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in my every day affairs. Instead I was taught that we were too foolish to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, because we might accidentally communicate with a demon instead. I have already debunked that false theology with verses like those in Luke 11:11-13, which ends with these words, “How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” But because I have been brainwashed to not readily ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, Satan can lull me back into that dead thinking (or lack of asking.) I must take an active stand against this ploy of Satan and instead ask God, actively for his guidance.
I need to be aware of bad feelings and bad moods. True sorrow is not a bad mood but a legitimate expression of my heart, and it differs from a bad mood that is not thankful, is not truly suffering but is complaining. A sorrowing heart simply cries out in its pain. A complaining heart grumbles without giving thanks. The complaining heart will not take comfort the way a truly sorrowing heart will (if that heart is surrendered to the Lord.) What I had been feeling was the complaining heart. But God is good, and he helped me to recognize what I was feeling and thinking.
Might I still need knee surgery? Possibly, but I am back to feeling God’s peace as I await my doctor’s appointment. Might we need to have our house tented if my husband demands we not get localized treatments for the pests? Yes, that may happen. But God will prevail. None of these are huge issues. We will be fine. But the devil stirred me up to think up the worst case scenarios, especially when I was first injured and the entire right side of my body was in pain. I am healing, and the other things that concerned me will be dealt with too.
Most of all, I must remember God’s gentle provision for me. He provided for the Israelites in the Old and New Testaments. He has provided for my ancestors. And he has always provided for me. So from now on, I will more quickly stop this recycling of negative thoughts and bring them captive to the Lord.
Thanks for joining us in this post. If you have ever recycled negative thoughts, let me know. We can encourage each other.