INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

Unwanted, persistent, and often disturbing ... 'intrusive thoughts' are involuntary, unwanted images, phrases, or impulses that enter a person's mind. Though they can represent a corrupt reaction to life in general, they are often embarrassing or shameful memories that cause one to shudder.   

 

These sudden 'cringe-worthy' recollections can bring confusion to a believer's heart and mind. Our salvation can seem tenuous when we don't see intrusive thoughts from God's perspective: 

Those things that crash against the shore of your mind are examined closely by God ... for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
 
He monitors every aspect of your earthly pilgrimage ... You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. (Psalm 139:2)

God understands the frailty of your human intellect ... The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath - vain, empty, and futile. (Psalm 94:11)

We're not left to our own devices when it comes to understanding and dealing with them:

The Bible reveals the motivation behind the incursions ... It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) 

Prayerful submission puts it under divine care  ... Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) 

The Holy Spirit fights the war within ... casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Our minds are weak and easily influenced by the world around us. Exposing ourselves to blasphemy, violence, sexual deviancy, etc., must be avoided. The more we surround ourselves with worldly things, the more the world will invade our thought life.

Make room for that which is edifying ... Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) 

'Intrusive thoughts' are like flaming arrows flung at your soul. Put on the armor of God, pilgrim.