Of all the disciplines required to take our thoughts captive, practicing quietness might be the most challenging. True quietness breaks mental spirals when we intentionally sit alone in the hush, away from the noise of the world.
The practice of stillness and solitude in the presence of God serves as the foundation for interrupting problematic thought patterns. Simply shifting your focus toward God can redirect a downward spiral. For example, if you are in a high-pressure situation at work, you might find these thoughts churning through your mind:
I am upset because I was passed over for the promotion I deserved.
I’m stressed because I’m working overtime yet not making ends meet.
I’m anxious because I’m running behind on my project and letting people down.
I’m frustrated because my boss is a micromanager.
Notice the pattern in each of these thoughts: [Negative emotion] because [reason].
I’m stressed because I’m working overtime.
I’m angry because she was rude.
I’m frustrated because I didn’t keep my commitment to myself.
I’m overwhelmed because I have too much to do.
With each tool God has given us to fight effectively in this battle for our minds, we get to rewrite that negative pattern while taking back the power He has given us. We can reframe our situations with a new pattern: [Negative emotion], and [reason], so I will [choice].
I’m upset, and I was passed over, so I will choose to remember that God has not forgotten me.
I’m angry, and she was rude, so I will choose to meditate on God’s kindness toward me.
I’m frustrated, and I didn’t keep my commitment to myself, so I will choose to look up verses on God’s mercy toward me and how it’s new every single day.
I’m overwhelmed, and I have too much to do, so I will choose to pause and thank God for existing outside the boundaries of time and for empowering me to accomplish only that which I need to do.
When you’re stuck in a downward spiral of distraction, to what truth will you shift your thoughts? How will you combat the lie that anything other than quieting yourself before God will truly satisfy you?
Meditate:
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)
Rewire the Spiral:
My heart was made to be still before God.
Prayer:
God, thank You for making it possible to rewrite the patterns in my brain. Ignite in me a craving for Your presence and teach me to choose You over and over again. Amen.”
Excerpted from Stop the Spiral Devotional by Jennie Allen. Copyright © 2024 by Jennie Allen. Published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Used by permission.