Christian Meditation: Controlling Negative Thoughts

stians we are in a battle everyday of our lives. ItYou can see from these scriptures that believers
is not a battle with our mates, kids, friends, ortruly have a mind problem.
even our bosses. The greatest battle that facesEphesians Chapter 6 tells us to cast down every
every believer is the battle with his or her ownfiery dart that exalts itself against the knowledge
mind. But what does it mean to battle with theof God and bring every thought into the
mind? Our minds or thoughts are usually contraryobedience of Christ. This is easier said than done
to God and the scriptures. Instead of focusing onbecause many of our thoughts are unconscious.
faith we focus on fear. Instead of focusing onThey just play like a broken record in the back of
abundance, we focus on lack. Instead meditatingour heads over and over again and we live our
on the word of God, we meditate on news,lives according to what they are telling us. It's kind
sitcoms, and negative thinking. These thoughtsof like living on autopilot.
steal our peace and joy, and interfere with livingSo how does Christian meditation help believers
out God's promises.bring healing to their minds?
Here is what the Bible says about our minds:Christian meditation helps us to still our minds so
Romans 1:28- "Furthermore, since they did notthat we can observe the subtle and subconscious
think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge ofthoughts that we're thinking. Spend a day
God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, torecording every thought that comes to mind.
do what ought not to be done."Write it down. Then review your thoughts at the
Ephesians 4:23 - "to be made new in the attitudeend of the day.
of your minds."I had my daughter do this for a day and every
2 Corinthians 11:3 - "But I am afraid that just asthought she wrote down was negative and
Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, yourdebilitating: "no one will ever hire me, I'm a failure,
minds may somehow be led astray from yourI'm ugly," etc. It was no wonder she was having
sincere and pure devotion to Christ."so many emotional problems at the time. Do you
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform any longer to theknow that we would never let another person
pattern (conditioning) of this world, but betalk to use like this, but too often we say horrible
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Thenthings about ourselves.
you will be able to test and approve what God'sThe good news is that once you know what is
will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."going on in your head you can do something
Paul said it best in Romans 7:21 when he statedabout it. You can change your thoughts and
that he knows what to do, but has trouble doingchange your life. You can replace negative
it.thoughts with God's word.
"When I want to do good, evil is right there withBy getting still and quieting your mind and filling it
me. 22-For in my inner being I delight in God's law;with the truth of God's word through
23-but I see another law at work in the membersChrist-center meditation you can uproot negative
of my body, waging war against the law of mythinking and replace it with thoughts of peace,
mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sinjoy, and purpose.
at work within my members.