When Your Thoughts Won’t Slow Down: Finding Peace Through Scripture

Sometimes, even when our anxiety is under control, our thoughts aren’t.  Of course, when anxiety is flaring, our thoughts won’t slow down. But for many of us, these can be unrelated events. And these out-of-control thoughts can impact our relationships at work and at home.

For some people these thoughts take the form of worrying, for others they manifest as stress. I’m an analytical thinker, so my out-of-control thoughts often appear to me like working through problems.

But thoughts that won’t slow down can be exhausting. The toll they take on us is why they affect our relationships. We are so busy in our heads that we don’t always put our full attention into responding to others.

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Meditation

Yes, I’m a Christian and I just wrote meditation. That’s because meditation can take many forms. Meditation on its’ own is not inherently anti-faith or unchristian.

Many years ago, I read this meditation technique, and it’s stayed with me all this time. It’s worked for me without fail every time my thoughts are running away with me. And I think it may be helpful for you, too.

Step 1:

The author recommended taking one piece of Scripture – a verse or even a part of a verse. Read it a few times. Write it on a notecard or text it to yourself so you have it hand throughout the day.

Begin by just repeating it over and over. Slow or fast; it doesn’t matter. Just fill your mind with it.

Step 2

Then begin to take apart the verse, word by word. Ask God to reveal to you what each word really means. What was His intent behind every word? Think deeply, listening to the Holy Spirit within to guide you.

Step 3

After you’ve gone through every word, think about the context in Scripture, if you know it. If you’re using a verse from Jesus in the New Testament, think about being with Jesus. What would you be thinking and feeling if you were one of the apostles, walking with Him, listening to Him say this?

Really immerse yourself in the setting, asking yourself what the hearers would have been thinking and feeling. What did God mean by this verse in that setting?

Step 4

Now ask God to reveal to you what He wants you to know for your life, today. How can you live out this verse?

This process can take as long or as short as you’d like. The key is to keep turning it over in your mind, praying all the while.

Why This Works

As you work with the verse, a few things are happening.

First and most important is that you are committing the verse to memory. Psalm 119:11 says “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.” That means that when we plant God’s word into our hearts, we will live the way God wants us to live.

Second, we are growing in our knowledge of Scripture. We don’t need experts to always help us understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit is here to help us. You are strong and intelligent enough to understand Scripture on your own. Experts are good, but trust God’s work in you.

Third, your mind will be filled with thinking about the verse and all its’ meaning. Thoughts that won’t slow down are stopped in their tracks by different thoughts. You will be taking up that space with Scripture instead.

Finally, you will be living the mandate in Philippians 4:8-9: “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 such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Did you catch the end? The peace of God will be with you. By focusing on His word, which is all these things, we can capture God’s peace.

Best Verses to Use

I’ve used lots of different verses to do this activity and they all work. Here are a few of my favorites, though:

New Testament

The first one is the one from above. I meditate on this verse A LOT, especially when I notice my thoughts getting out of control.  Philippians 4:8-9: 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 such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This verse I use occasionally just meditate on pieces of it. Use any part that speaks to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

Old Testament

Proverbs 3:5-6 (this was the first verse I ever memorized, and I still find it useful to meditate on it): Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Here’s a good one to remind you how much God loves you. Zephaniah 3:17: The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

This verse always brings me peace just saying it. I sort of give a sigh of relief every time I see it. I hope it does the same for you. Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

There you have it, five verses to practice with this week.

Next Steps

This meditation process has served me well for many years. Sometimes I go back to old favorite verses because they are comforting to me and other times I search to find a new verse for a challenge. It sort of depends on my mood which strategy I use. No matter what,though, this always works when my thoughts won’t slow down.

The next step is to keep at it. Focus your thoughts on God and His word using this strategy.

What’s your favorite verse? Share it in the comments to help others get new ideas for meditation verses.

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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