How to overcome unwanted sinful thoughts

{Written July 3, 2019}

As a teenager, I remember bad thoughts and images popping into my head, but I quickly shook them off with a busying task. 

As a young adult, when these thoughts popped into my mind, I simply thought they were a by-product of my teen years and all the things I had seen and done as a rebellious young lady.

But then, as a saved adult, who previously battled and overcame pornography, I felt these images were my punishment for becoming entangled in pornography and sexual immorality.

I use the phrase “popped into my mind” because that is exactly what they did. I did not have to be thinking of anything remotely related for these thoughts to jump into my head. And if you haven’t guessed already, these thoughts and images were sexual in nature.

I didn’t understand where these thoughts were coming from and I could not share what was happening with anyone. 

I mean, how could I? Who would trust me or want me as a friend if I shared such a thing?

And the thing is, these thoughts did not tempt me…at all.

Instead, they made me feel dirty, defective, and weary.

How I Overcame My Unwanted Sinful Thoughts

As time went on, these “pop ups” became worse and worse, becoming more and more frequent.

I would quote Scriptures and try to take my thoughts “captive,” but each day they returned. This led me to believe that I was not taking my thoughts captive “correctly.”

So one day during a fast, I prayed and asked the Lord to lead me in a study on what it really meant to take my thoughts captive.

I was then led to a video on YouTube by Pastor Jimmy Evans.

In the video, Mr. Evans explains how he overcame thoughts of pornography with biblical meditation.

Now, I must admit that, before listening to this video, I had never heard of biblical meditation. And after listening to this sermon, I honestly did not believe that this would work for my particular situation—mostly because it sounded to me, like biblical meditation was the same thing as quoting Scriptures. And I had quoted Scriptures—many times—without being delivered from this matter.

However, I was at my wit’s end with these unwanted thoughts and decided to buy Mr. Evans’s eBook, A Mind Set Free, in which he teaches further about biblical meditation.

And I am not exaggerating when I say the following: this book changed my life!

After about a day and a half of actually practicing what I learned from this book, my mind was set free!

I went from having 50 unwanted/sinful thoughts a day (which would drive me to tears and make me feel like I was defective & crazy), to maybe 1 or 2 unwanted thoughts! 

This book not only taught me the “what and how” of biblical meditation, but it also taught me the root cause of my problem… my MIND was being attacked.

Mr. Evans teaches from the Scriptures that we are in a battle for our minds, and the battle can only be won by committing our MINDS to the Word of God.

He also teaches that biblical meditation acts as a “sacred software” that reprograms our minds to function in the truth of the Scriptures as God intended (pg. 5 of eBook).

So, what exactly is biblical meditation?

Well, let’s go straight to the Scriptures and find out.

What Is Biblical Meditation & How Is It Different from Quoting Scriptures?

The Hebrew definition for “meditate” can be summed up as “musing (reflection and deep thought) and murmuring (speaking quietly to one’s self).”

We can begin musing by simply reflecting/thinking about what the Lord is teaching us through a verse or passage, then thinking on how we can apply it to our daily lives.

We can then use murmuring to not only recite what the verse says but also by speaking our thoughts/reflections quietly to ourselves.

So biblical meditation is much different than simply quoting Scriptures.

Consider these verses:

Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

Psalm 1:1-3 says, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

We learn from these verses that meditating on the Word of God is a principle from Scripture that comes with a promise. The promise is that we will have success and prosper.

However, as believers, the Lord does not intend for us to prosper as the world prospers. Instead, we prosper in spiritual matters and we prosper in “doing according to all that is written” in the Scriptures, as Joshua 1:8 outlines.

But in order to do what is written in the Word of God, we must know what the Word teaches about a specific matter/topic.

And this is another principle that Mr. Evans outlines in his book. He teaches that we should find what the Word of God says about whatever issue we are facing, and then begin meditating on those specific verses.

Which is what I now do. However, when I began meditating on the Word of God, I started by meditating on a passage that taught me more about biblical meditation, which is Psalms 1:1-3.

Then, later I added some verses about the mind.

Here are a few of the verses I found:

• “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6 NASB)
• “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Romans 8:7 NASB)
• “Therefore, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you will prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
• “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” (Philippians 4:8 AMP)

Meditating on these verses will not only set your mind free, but it will also give you a deeper understanding of what these Scriptures teach because when we practice biblical meditation, we are putting all these verses into practice as well!

Think about it: biblical meditation sets our minds on the things of the Spirit (the Word of God and the Lord’s will for our lives), which is life and peace as Romans 8:6 says.

Biblical meditation also takes our minds from the things of the flesh and renews our mind by the Word of God. Setting our minds on what is true, honorable, worthy of respect, pure, wholesome, worthy of praise, and peace (Philippians 4:8).

Knowing When to Meditate Is Important

In Mr. Evans’s book, he takes the reader to Deuteronomy 6:6-8, which says:

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, or frontlets) on your forehead.” (AMP)

This passage outlines four times each day that we should speak the Word to our children: “(1)when you sit in your house and (2)when you walk on the road and (3)when you lie down and (4)when you get up.”

Pastor Evans explains how these are all times of reflection, times when our minds are not actively engaged at a task, times when our minds can be attacked by the enemy. And he believes these are the best times to practice meditating on Scripture. And through experience, I agree with all these times!

I typically  meditate first thing in the morning (it is a part of my morning routine), and then again right before bed (it’s typically the last thing I do before I go to sleep).

But I also meditate at different times throughout my day as well, as I am reminded (which I have used alarms in my phone to remind me at different periods of time).

It’s important to add that I meditate on one verse each day. This gives me ample time with the verse to “chew on” it and really digest its meaning (which is what Pastor Evans recommends).

And these times work as a guard or preparation against evil thoughts, like a pre-emptive strike against the world and enemy in our thoughts. These times will give your mind peace on a day-to-day basis.

However, I would like to add one more time.

And these are the times when your mind is actually being attacked.

Because even though we are strengthening our minds and spirits in biblical meditation, we must know that the enemy will attack us again at some point. Because this is what he does.

The Scriptures actually teach us this. Luke 4:13 says this, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”

So if the enemy attacked Jesus at opportune times, even though Jesus overcame every temptation, how can we think that the enemy won’t return to attack us at opportune times as well.

So when you are faced with these unwanted thoughts after you have experienced peace in your mind, you need to remember that the enemy is doing his job, and now you must do yours. Remember, we are in a spiritual battle.

So pick up the only weapon that is stronger than the unwanted thought in your head—the Word of God—and begin meditating on it.

You see, it is really difficult to get a thought out of your head once it has been presented, but you can crowd it out by force, by thinking on something more powerful than the thought.

We do this by simply taking our mind and placing it on the Word. So, there is no need to get upset. Just change focus.

Simply take a Scripture, think about what it means, and speak the verse and its meaning aloud. Then, also speak to yourself of ways you can apply it to your life.

And really set your mind to applying the verse and how you can teach it to others. Let your thoughts become immersed in the Word of God until the enemy bows his knees to the Word of God and flees.

And he must flee, as the Scriptures have taught & promised us! James 4:7 says this, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Oftentimes, I become so immersed in what I am meditating (thinking on) in the Word of God, till I don’t even notice when the enemy flees.  

I become immersed in the Word by thinking on a keyword (a word that stands out to me in a verse) then I think on what the word means, then I think on the opposite meaning of the word. Then I ask myself, how to actually practice this word in my daily life. If I don’t know what the word means then I look it up (I have a bible dictionary app on my phone). And I do this with several words in a verse (usually verbs) until I have worked my way through the entire verse.

A Final Note: Remember

1). It’s important to remember that the Word of God is full of Scriptures for you to meditate on each day, and every single verse is more powerful than any thought the enemy can throw at you.

2). All unwanted thoughts are an attack, but biblical meditation is a life-long principle that the Scriptures command us to do. This practice will bring success in the war on our minds.

3). The enemy seeks to discourage believers and wear us down so we will stop trusting God and live in defeat in certain areas of our lives. So, don’t give up! If the enemy persists, then you persist! Remember, you are in a war. Don’t just roll over and play dead! Persevere in Christ Jesus!

Here are some books that will help you to learn more about overcoming mental strongholds:

A Mind Set Free: Overcoming Mental Strongholds Through Biblical Meditation

100 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know

Begin memorizing, studying, and meditation on the Word of God with this FREE BIBLE WORKBOOK!