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How to Get Rid of Unwanted Thoughts

Accept unwanted thoughts as a normal part of life

For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; MARK 7:21-23 NLT

You are not your thoughts, but you are becoming your decisions

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.  HAGGAI 1:7 NIV

Recognize the power of your thoughts

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. PROVERBS 4:23 NCV

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? MATTHEW 9:4 ESV

Invite Jesus to help me change the way I think

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” MARK 1:14-15 NIV

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. ROMANS 12:2 NLT

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 10:5 ESV

Learning to control my mind will make me powerful

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 ESV

Trying to control others will make me miserable

Trust Scripture to show me how to change my thinking

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NLT

Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 2 TIMOTHY 2:7 NLT

Think about the people in your life that have been good to you

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. HEBREWS 13:7 NLT

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. PHILIPPIANS 1:3 NLT

Think about the good things God wants to do through you

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NLT

Think about how to help people become their very best

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. HEBREWS 10:24 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place to make room for God to speak to you in this time of reflection. Pray He will calm your emotions and clear your thinking. Take a few deep breaths. When you sense you are ready, invite God into this time to guide you. Ask God to help you discern to what extent your thoughts are unhealthy. What came to mind? What are some examples of bad thoughts and how they have hurt you? In what ways have your thoughts and responses to them become godlier in the last year? Why do you think this happened? As you review Philippians 4:8, what stands out to you as needing to change in your thinking habits? Ask Him to guide you and empower you to make these changes in your thinking. Think of a situation that is troubling you. Take a minute and listen to your thoughts about this circumstance. Identify which thoughts are godly and which are not as you reflect on Philippians 4:8. Picture what your future would look like if you were able to practice this positive thinking. What excites you the most about this picture?

Discussion Questions

Choose a couple of the following questions from each section that best fit your group. Or have everyone read the questions, choosing which one(s) from each section they feel led to respond to.

  1. START HERE: What song or artist did you have on repeat in high school?
  2. START HERE: What's a thought that keeps you up at night?
  3. START HERE: What’s something you think about a lot but wish you didn’t?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 9:4 (NLT). Why do you think Jesus was so concerned with what people were thinking, even if they didn’t say anything?
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Mark 7:21-23 (NLT) and Haggai 1:7 (NLT). In what ways have negative thoughts impacted your life, and what could change if you started paying closer attention to them?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read Romans 12:2 (NLT). Transformation happens when we let God renew our minds. What do you think transformation looks like in day-to-day life?
  7. KEEP GOING: Imagine yourself 15 years from now. What advice would your future self give your current self about the way you think and live today?
  8. Live It Out: This week, which specific qualities from Philippians 4:8 could you focus on, and how might that impact your day-to-day?
  9. Live It Out: How would your life be different if you believed the best about people?
  10. Live It Out: Who is one person who has made a positive impact on you, and how can you thank or encourage them this week? Consider taking a moment right now to text them.