If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’ve been making a habit of getting up each morning and spending the first minutes of my day with God. As I mentioned in a prior post entitled, Sweet Selah Moments, I’m currently going through Sharon Gamble’s devotional with the same title. About a week ago (Day 23 in the book), the day’s devotion was about capturing thoughts.

“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” -2 Corinthians 10:5

I don’t know about you … but I have a lot of negative thoughts in a day. I worry needlessly. I envy others for a myriad of reasons. I get irritated when things aren’t done the way I think they should be done. I get irritated when my time is interrupted. To be honest, I get irritated by a lot of things.

These, I’m aware, are all things the Bible specifically points out as ungodly. When I worry, I’m not trusting God. When I’m envious, I’m breaking one of the ten commandments. When I get irritated with others, I’m not showing the fruits of the Spirit.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” -Galatians 5:22-23

I want to be better. I’ve been spending more time with God, praying more, spending time in His word. And I have improved greatly over the years. Still, far too many bad thoughts cross my mind each day.

But I’d never really grasped how to capture my thoughts. Is it possible for mere mortals?

I didn’t think so.

Then I came to Day 23 in Sharon’s devotional. She offers up a practical solution in Sweet Selah Moments – turn it into prayer.

What does that mean?

Let’s say someone cuts you off in traffic. If you’re like me, a slew of unkind, unloving (to put it mildly) thoughts probably enter your mind. The first step is to recognize the thoughts for what they are … ungodly … and turn them into a prayer. Ask God to help that person be a better, more conscientious driver. Or ask Him to help you understand that He loves that person as much as He loves you.

For the past week, I’ve been attempting to practice this. Perhaps you’re holier than me, but I’ve found I think unkind, unloving … let’s just say it … evil thoughts on a regular basis. I can’t believe how unhealthy my mind can be. And that’s with spending every morning with God and praying throughout the day!

Here are a couple benefits I experience when I remember to turn my thoughts into prayer:

• I’m praying more
• My mood is vastly improved

That’s good! I’m turning my thought life into a prayer life. Hopefully, over time, good thoughts will overtake the bad thoughts, but my habit of capturing my thoughts will become so ingrained, I’ll find myself saying thanks and praising God more than I need to turn bad thoughts into prayer.

And I now believe it’s possible with effort and perseverance.

Why?

Because Sharon Gamble did it. Her worried, bitter, envious thoughts eventually faded after about ten months of consistently turning those thoughts into prayer.

I truly never would have thought it possible. Now, along with all my other New Year’s goals I’ve added to my Streaks app, I’m going to include capturing thoughts, just so I remember to do it (it’s so easy to forget)! But each morning is a reset…a time to try again.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” -Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank God that He is patient and faithful to let us try and try again.

What about you? Do you ever worry? Do you envy others? Do you get irritated? Are there people in your life you struggle to love or be patient with? Why not turn those thoughts into prayer?

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” -Galatians 6:9

You are loved,

J F Rogers