It is not an intrusive thought - a compulsion which I had an urge to think about....It really is true that these "nots" are fueling the fire. You are getting yourself all upset over linguistics and words like "irrevocably."
You are not your thoughts. Period. This is an anxiety disorder. That is where it begins, and where it ends. I agree with Seajoy. Your brother is not a therapist, not a mental health expert. And I know he means well and is concerned about the eternity of your soul, but his advice concerning this issue is not appropriate.
Have we not all had well meaning fellow Christians telling us to "snap out of it" or "have stronger faith?" You can't fault anyone for what they don't understand, but you still have to understand that this is beyond their expertise...beyond their experience.
Here is how my therapist would advise me to proceed if I think I've sold my soul to the devil.
Intrusive thought: "I have irrevocably sold my soul to the devil"
Cognitive response: "If I really have irrevocably sold my soul to the devil, there is nothing I can do about it. Worrying about it will not change the consequence, so I might as well live with it."
Several minutes, days, weeks later (duration really depends on how skilled you are at the ERP therapy): "I cannot believe three minutes ago I thought I sold my soul to the devil. How silly!" (Insert prayer here thanking God for Christian therapists and for divine sovereignty. Pray also for protection from future intrusive thoughts, and for the continued ability to deal with the thoughts as they come)
Next step - Get on with day.
You can do it. You just have to let go of strategies that do not work.
Though quite unlike your example above, the thought vocalized as if I myself am selling/giving it irrevocably to the enemy (or dedicating it irrevocably..), or as if I myself am renouncing Christ or God (or any person of the Godhead for that matter).
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