70,000. That’s how many thoughts we think every day, which breaks down to 1.2 thoughts per second.
Yoo-hoo, dear wonderful person who did the research so as to provide us with this thought provoking information: What I’d like to know is, how many of these thoughts of mine are rational, logical, emotional, or have something to do with cream cheese? Does this statistic count the thoughts I think in my subconscious while I’m sleeping? Or in fact do I cram my 70K thoughts into my awake hours, which ultimately means that all the thoughts I think are running into each other, tackling, punching, vying for attention, thus resulting in a big jumbled pile-up inside my head?
I’d like to believe my thinker works in overdrive because I am an efficient multi-tasker. Yes. This is a gift I have, which in effect allows me to plan dinner, read to my kids, make a mental list of phone calls I need to make, and question whose feet are the culprit of my nostril discomfort – all at the same time. Unfortunately, it is also the thinker that allows me to create scenarios, envision disasters, replay conversations, invent situations, and ultimately freak out inside about what did, could, should, didn’t, would have, and might just happen. It is this thinker that makes me believe that I’m completely on my own and able to solve all the world’s problems, prevent all physical and spiritual calamities for my children, and figure out how to appropriately respond to all conversations and encounters.
This kind of thinking makes me crazy.
So what to do? We can’t stop thinking. (because then we’d be dead. okay then.) Are those of us who tend to “over-think” situations, worry, fret, and constantly analyze just destined to have a lot of frustration for the rest of our lives?
Jesus says, no way. Just like any sin and struggle, God gives us a simple way out of the crazy.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
Want to print this? Click here to download.
We control our thoughts. They do not control us. If we allow thoughts that are anxious, frustrated, confusing, angry, controlling, or ungodly in any other way – we need to take them captive and intentionally refocus them to make them obey Christ.
This takes courage, intention, and a heart open to surrender. Christ wants to overtake our thoughts, to fill our minds with his goodness, and to rule our actions. He can’t do that when we ignore Him. He can’t talk to us if we aren’t listening. He can’t fill us with His peace and joy when we refuse to let go of swirling, corrupted thoughts.
Take your thoughts captive. Make them obey Christ. Stop thinking about and trying to figure out all the stuff. Just stop. Stop thinking and pray. Before every decision. Every situation. Every step forward.
Be amazed at how God offers a solution to every problem you face and how He replaces your anxiety with peace.
Stop thinking and pray. It works! But did we really expect anything less?
Don’t ever stop blogging. There are so few constants in my life right now, yet I’ve been reading your blog for 4 years. And even when I’m struggling and need a post *like* this one, which could be maybe found on any number of blogs, it is YOUR post and consistency in both your faith and humor that is comfort food for me.
You are so sweet to encourage me like this. Thank you. :)
Wow! This is what I need to hear….today! You described me perfectly…I often wonder if I should write books (they would be tragic) because of the scenarios I can come up with when I worry, fret, “am concerned” about a situation. Thank you for the print out…I’m printing it out and putting it on the frig…my husband and daughter are traveling this weekend and I am fighting (praying/taking the thoughts captive to Christ) the horror stories in my mind.
Wow… So I had a moment of serious anger in the middle of the night toward my husband (screaming baby and exhausted mama and slow moving husband was a lethal combo) and I looked at my phone for a few minutes trying to calm down and fall asleep and I saw this post in my blog reader. I didn’t want to hear it but I KNEW God was telling me that no matter how justified I may have felt in my anger… I needed to DEMOLISH the argument and make my thoughts obedient to Christ. The Holy Spirit definitely used your post to convict me and soften my heart right in the moment and I just wanted to share that with you.
This came at the perfect time! I’ve been struggling with worry and thinking upon scenarios the past 2 days. Thanks for reminding me of truth!
Perfect timing Laura.
Ladies, if you read this, please pray for San Diego County right now. I know I’m wrapped up in thoughts and thoughts because there are several wildfires within 10-30 miles of me and with lots of friends even closer, but it’s so important to stop worrying and JUST PRAY!!!!
Please pray with us San Diegans. We’ve been through this many times. So far there are at least a few dozen homes burnt, thousands evacuated. A new fire just started up so I’m pretty sure that’s number 6, maybe number 7. And only one is fully contained. The weather is not letting up. It’s still about 95 degrees outside (almost 4:30 pm) and high winds in some parts of the county.
Thank you for any sisters (or brothers) who will stop and pray with me.
It truly is a task to constantly direct our thoughts to obey Christ, but many of those very thoughts (70K as noted above…and wow that’s a lot!) are truly not needed when we are relying on Him for discernment and direction. We are beings wanting control and that’s why our minds are always thinking of what’s next, when reliance on God would mean forfeit of those very same thoughts! Let us truly pray and allow ourselves to be led!
Thank you for this post!
Also I’m nominating this post for a repost! 8/17/21
Great idea!
-Bethany (Laura’s assistant)