Sometimes I wish my mind had an off switch. Times when thoughts echo through my head – pinging around – ricocheting relentlessly with no reprieve.
Thoughts like –
I can’t.
I’m a failure.
I’m not good enough.
Why did you say that?
Why didn’t you say that?
I’m going to lose_______.
What about you?
What thought consistently echoes in your head?
Recently I was struggling with an echoing thought from a very real dream (nightmare). The dream was so realistic, it took me a while to orient myself when I woke up.
Even now, if I allow myself to dwell on the echo of the dream, I experience the emotions present that night – skin prickles, knotted stomach – fear.
So how do condemning – fear inducing – soul- sucking – lying thoughts echoing through our minds get silenced?
First – realize we are listening. We allow the thought to get stuck on repeat – and the more we replay it – the more rooted it gets in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “….take every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Instead of feeding into the echo, counter it with truth.
Truth like:
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”- Psalm 139:14
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”– Jeremiah 32:27
Next – stop feeding the echoing thoughts. This world saturates us with ample ammunition for flawed thinking.
Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Finally, surrender echoing thoughts in prayer.
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The majority of his prayer is praising God for who He is, reminding God what He has done in the past, and sharing with God the current circumstances. Jeremiah ends his prayer describing his own, personal obedience to God.
We can do this too.
Praise God, remind Him of all the things He has done for us, and share our current state of mind – all those echoing thoughts in our heads.
Then allow Him to do what only He can do.
Silence them.
“…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
But/Then:
Read the following prayers of Jeremiah. What does Jeremiah say, and how does the Lord respond?
Jeremiah 1: 6-8
Jeremiah 14: 13 – 22
Jesus says in John 16:33 we will have tribulation in this world. Read the following verses – writing out every command and promise you see:
John 14: 1-3
Romans 8:28
2 Corinthians 4:17
2 Corinthians 12:9
1 Peter 4: 12-13
Psalm 34: 19-20
Psalm 41:3
Isaiah 43:2
Which one of the above impacted you the most in your current situation? Why?
What do the following verses teach about prayer?
Matthew 26:41
Luke 18:1
Ephesians 6:18
Colossians 4: 2-3
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Write out a prayer telling God about the thoughts echoing in your head.