Do you feel trapped in negative, anxious thoughts?

Does it seem that no matter where you turn, there’s something else to be afraid of?

Here are two biblical ways we can “think well” during this season.

1. When you are having “anxious thoughts,” here’s a biblical answer.

If I should say, “My foot has slipped,”
Your faithfulness, Lord, will support me.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your comfort delights my soul. (Ps. 94:18–19 NASB) 

When I worried about many things,

    your assuring words soothed my soul. (Ps. 94:19 NOG)

Think about what those verses mean:

• God is faithful to the point that even if we fail or mess up badly, He will catch us in His arms and support us.

• God is faithful because He is faithful. Not because we deserve it or have somehow earned His faithfulness. Even when we make a mistake, He is faithful.

• God doesn’t need to leap forward and grab us when we start falling. He is already close by—close enough to catch us. We have not been left. Not even a little bit.

• God is not hardhearted toward us, even when we’ve sinned. When we call out to Him, He is moved with compassion.

• When we are afraid, God comforts us. Fear is from the enemy, but the Lord doesn’t punish us or hold us at arm’s length when we’ve allowed fear to talk to us. He simply comforts us—and His comfort changes our heart.

• The comfort of the Lord produces laughter and joy inside us.

A simple prayer: Father God, I need Your comfort. I ask that You would comfort me deeply and help me to feel Your comfort. May it soak down into my heart and all my bones.

2. When you feel confused, discouraged, or “trapped” in negative thinking, here’s a biblical answer.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Phil. 4:8 NLT)

Consider what Philippians 4:8 means:

• God doesn’t want us to think about the bad things that could happen. Instead, we get to think about good things, lovely things, admirable things, pleasant things—whatever is excellent and actually worthy of praise.

• Philippians 4:8 isn’t just a list of good things to think about. It is a description of what the Lord is like and what He provides to our heart when we focus on Him.

• Thinking about God is good for us. Thinking about fearful things is not good for us.

• Fear is not one of the lovely things. So we don’t need to dwell on it.

• God is one of the lovely things, and when we think of Him, our outlook radically changes and we have hope that is based on His reality.

• Learning to think according to Philippians 4:8 is a noble endeavor that’s worth our time.

• Philippians 4:8 is how God thinks. No wonder He doesn’t count our sins against us or keep a record of our wrongs. (See 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 Cor. 13:5.)

A simple prayer: Father, would You teach me how to think according to Philippians 4:8? May my roots grow down deep into You, and may my life be built on You (Col. 2:7 NLT).

Since our thoughts dictate who we become (Prov. 23:7), let’s take extra care to make sure we’re thinking well. We are the children of Hope. That’s who God is, and He is how we get to think.

Does your heart need to remember who God is? Check out these other devotions:

• 4 Truths About God When You’re Afraid or Oppressed

• August Devotions: Seeing Your Life the Way God Does

• Do You Understand How Different You Are Now Because of Jesus?  

• 3 Things to Remember When the World Is Shaking

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