Want to know the BEST way to stop intrusive thoughts?
People from all around the world deal with intrusive thoughts and don’t know where they come from.
Many think that these thoughts are normal and they’re told that there is nothing they can do to stop them.
You may have been suffering in silence because these unwanted thoughts have caused you to think that something is wrong with you. It stops here in Jesus’ name!
No longer will negative intrusive thoughts drive you to drinking, drugs, overeating, or suicide!
It’s time to learn how to fight the enemy behind intrusive thoughts.
This post is all about the best way to stop intrusive thoughts.
Are you ready? Let’s Geaux!
What Are Intrusive Thoughts
The word intrusive means to cause disruption or annoyance through being unwelcomed or uninvited. Intruder, on the other hand, describes anyone or anything who enters a territory without permission.
When God had the bright idea to make human beings, He spoke something very specific.
He said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, over all the earth, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth (Genesis 1:26 NIV).
Bestie, this is a spiritual battle. Long before you and I were born, God had a plan to extend His rulership to Earth through His children. Heaven is His domain, while Earth is ours.
You were created to rule, subdue, dominate, and govern the Earth to make it function just like your home country, Heaven.
The moment God established the first man and woman is where we see the Intruder make His way.
Where Do Intrusive Thoughts Come From
Luke 10:19 NIV-I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he forfeited dominion and unlocked many things, including intrusive thoughts.
While some intrusive thoughts are random, others are strategically planted in your mind and watered over time.
I’m sure that there were negative words spoken to you as a child that you still wrestle with today. You may not hear them until it’s time for you to face something new or get close to someone. Either way, intrusive thoughts typically sound the same.
Thoughts like: “I could never do that”. “My family has always done it this way”. “I’m not good enough” are what negative intrusive thoughts can sound like.
None of these thoughts accidently come across your mind because you have a real enemy. But you do have a part to play in the reason why they linger.
I want you to think about a negative thought that always plays in your mind. Begin to think about why and when that thought occurs.
For example, a thought that comes into my mind often is “I hate my life”. I’m aware that this thought isn’t mine because I don’t hate my life and it only comes when I’m faced with disappointment.
In my case, it would be the disappointment.
Since I’m always trying something new, disappointment will happen often because failure is inevitable. If I allow myself to stay in disappointment, then I am opening the floodgates for intrusive thoughts.
If you are struggling with worry, then it is time for you to get to the root of it so that intrusive thoughts can no longer linger in your mind.
You don’t have to settle for intrusive thoughts. The Healthy Mental Mini Workbook is designed to help you challenge each thought and put them in their place. Get yours today!
The enemy behind these thoughts cannot create anything new. He can only use what’s available to him. Remember that Jesus has given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.
He promised that nothing will harm you.
Can Intrusive Thoughts Be Triggered
Hebrews 12:2 NLT-We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Intrusive thoughts can indeed be triggered. Certain environments, smells, sayings, stressors, and anxiousness can attribute to these thoughts.
Honestly, there are moments when you won’t be triggered. Remember, this is a spiritual battle, and you do have a real enemy who would do anything to keep you from being who God created you to be.
You also have to remember that your patterns can attribute to intrusive thoughts. If you’re committed to unhealthy behavior patterns, your patterns can fuel the intrusive thoughts in your mind.
For example, if you’ve been telling yourself that you’ll wake up earlier and your actions aren’t following, then you’re leaving room for the thoughts to invade.
Or if your focus isn’t on Jesus and what He has instructed you to do, then the thoughts can potentially overtake you. It’s a must that you focus.
Do Intrusive Thoughts Mean Anything
Colossians 3:3 NIV-For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Intrusive thoughts mean that you are human. There is nothing wrong with you and you aren’t alone. What you must know is that these thoughts don’t reflect your character.
Intrusive thoughts aren’t the truth. Just because they can pop into your mind doesn’t mean that you have to let them take root.
None of these thoughts have the power to make anything happen unless you are the one to act on them. You are stronger!
You are not your thoughts.
{RELATED POST: Faith Not Feelings: 9 Strategies To Trust God Beyond Emotion}
How To Stop Intrusive Thoughts
Negative and positive thoughts will cross your mind and you can manage both! There are four ways that you can use to stop negative intrusive thoughts.
1. Take Every Thought Captive
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV-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.
An intruder won’t come in if he knows that someone powerful is home. When intrusive thoughts pop in your mind, you have to take them captive.
You have to make these thoughts submit to the Word of God.
2. Guard Your Heart Above All Else
Proverbs 4:23 NIV-Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
To guard your heart is to watch what you are allowing yourself to ingest. “What goes in must come out” is not a saying that only pertains to food.
What goes in through your eyes and ears has the potential to live in your subconscious mind long after its expiration date.
Take inventory of what you are watching, listening, and engaging in. Certain movies, shows, podcasts, and videos shouldn’t be ingested by you even if others are able to ingest them.
3. Replace The Darkness With Light
James 4:7 NKJV-Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
For every negative intrusive thought, speak back to it aloud with light. If the thought tells you to do something inappropriate, you tell it what God says.
This is exactly how to turn a negative thought into a positive thought.
You will have to do a little homework in order to complete this step, but it will be worth it. Once an intrusive thought is exposed to the light, it has to flee.
4. Identify Your Triggers
Hosea 4:6 NIV-My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
As long as you’re ignorant to your triggers, you leave room for the enemy. Any area that you don’t have knowledge in, is an area that the enemy can use to ruin your life.
6 Scriptures To Defeat Intrusive Thoughts
The Word of God is the only way to destroy intrusive thoughts. The following scriptures will be the jumpstart to you putting a stop to these unwanted thoughts.
- We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things(Philippians 4:8).
- But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires(Romans 13:14).
- Be alert and sober minded. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8).
- Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it(Proverbs 4:23).
- My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests. Because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children (Hosea 4:6).
Bestie, you don’t have to settle for these thoughts. Many people think that there’s nothing you can do about them, but God says otherwise. Because you are His child and His heir, you can’t keep allowing yourself to lose against unwanted thoughts. It’s time for you to rise up and take back your mind.
This post was all about the best way to stop intrusive thoughts.
Remember you are destined to win because He got up!
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