Tips for dealing with intrusive thoughts

I read a lot. I am currently reading some of the old classics like Robinson Crusoe and Moby Dick.

Pray since He is in you & is with you always, and thus have access to your thoughts.

Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It is because of this, prayer is needed.

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It is one thing to cast down every wicked imagination but it is by His help...

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

And another to think on good things with His help;

Philippian 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

I side with Tellastory. I also have problems with intrusive thoughts, ones that bother me even when I try to focus on creative projects or even just try to read a book or watch a movie. However, when my mind focuses on God in prayer or meditation, I'm never interrupted. He is more powerful than my thoughts and I've come to rely on Him to alleviate those issues.

grandvizier1006 said:

Sometimes I try reading the Bible, but somehow or other my thoughts just go straight back to whatever it is that bothers me. Any help for concentrating on that stuff?

Click to expand...

Try using bible commentaries or study bibles. These will help you better understand each passage of Scripture.

Also, you can read daily devotionals to help you with your prayers.

grandvizier1006 said:

Sometimes I try reading the Bible, but somehow or other my thoughts just go straight back to whatever it is that bothers me. Any help for concentrating on that stuff?

Click to expand...

My own attention span isn't great, so my mind also tends to wander while reading, even with the Bible sometimes. Prayer has always been the most effective method for me for blocking out all extraneous thought.

Something like that; I can pray for focus or mental strength, but any prayer at all tends to refocus my thoughts much more clearly. Simply talking to God about anything is an incredible cathartic release of emotion for me. Sometimes I'll just take a walk while doing so, eliminating everything in the moment except me and God, and its worked.

grandvizier1006 said:

what do you find distracts or subverts those annoying thoughts? Any suggestions will do. Often I have nothing to do and that is win the thoughts come.

Click to expand...

Pray and move on. Just, basically, say "Look, I don't want these [thoughts] anymore, [Lord], please take them away. [...]" and move on.
Music helps me to keep my mind off of it...

I have grown so tired and worn out that im numb. Im not sure if that's the correct way to describe it but its basically that i have given up the battle altogether because i dont care anymore. What am i worried about anyway? What am we fearing? What am i obsessed with? Religion? Politics? Living? I don't care anymore. I am dead, i don't obsess, fear or worry. I just close my eyes and rest. Whatever be will will be. Sure those things try to overtake me, but i have robbed it of its power because i dont care what happens anymore, because i cant change anything.

NOt sure if this makes sense to anyone, but to me it does.

Poster0 said:

I have grown so tired and worn out that im numb. Im not sure if that's the correct way to describe it but its basically that i have given up the battle altogether because i dont care anymore. What am i worried about anyway? What am we fearing? What am i obsessed with? Religion? Politics? Living? I don't care anymore. I am dead, i don't obsess, fear or worry. I just close my eyes and rest. Whatever be will will be. Sure those things try to overtake me, but i have robbed it of its power because i dont care what happens anymore, because i cant change anything.

NOt sure if this makes sense to anyone, but to me it does.

Click to expand...

It sounds like the symptoms of either depression or burn out. Either way, it sounds familiar to me... apathetic-ness is what I've experienced a lot in the past from time to time. The key for me to get out of it was to find just options thing I miiiiight be sliiiiiiightly interested in and the "get the ball rolling" from there...

HannahElizaW said:

It sounds like the symptoms of either depression or burn out. Either way, it sounds familiar to me... apathetic-ness is what I've experienced a lot in the past from time to time. The key for me to get out of it was to find just options thing I miiiiight be sliiiiiiightly interested in and the "get the ball rolling" from there...

Click to expand...

If you mean that i might need to find constructive things to do then i agree. Its not that i dont care about my soul because i do care and i keep the Lords teaching in my heart for that reason. I don't abandon the path he has given me to walk. I have however given up my struggle with worry, fear, anxiety and depression. Those things still try to take hold of me but i find that by being apathetic about my fate actually helps me to deal with those things better. I am apathetic because i have grown so tired that i given up. Not giving up on things that i love, but on things that i hate. I guess that when people talk about being healed for example, that they make me feel faithless because im not healed and this makes me doubt my salvation. They also talk about how fearless they are and again it makes me doubt myself if i experience fear. They talk about demon possession, false profits within ourselves, and these dark things are what i hate. I dont care anymore. If i fear then i fear, if i am not healed then i am not healed, if i die then i die. Whatever my fate is, i don't care anymore and i dont care what others say i should be. I just follow the lords good teaching and let fate have its way with me. This may sound crazy, im not sure, but to me it makes sense.