How to Lasso the Lies (For Recovering Worry Warts)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT
As a recovering worry wart, I can let my thoughts send me into a whirlwind and quickly derail me. What I’ve learned and continue to strive for is remembering some simple things.
First, be where your feet are, meaning where you physically are—be there. Be completely in the moment, not stuck in your head. Recently, my husband saw a picture on my phone of my feet on the beach and asked why would I would take a picture of my feet. My answer: It’s a visual reminder to be where my feet are. Present. Not distracted by a conversation in my head that never comes to fruition.
Dr. Derwin Gray often refers to the mind as the scene of the crime. It’s true, our minds can create some altered reality and the devil loves to feed us lies. Have you ever noticed that the devil creates scenarios in your head that didn’t happen or creates new narratives to conversations you’ve had? Those new narratives are never the truth and they only seem to send your thoughts into a downward spiral. You start believing the lies unless you take those thoughts captive and align them with truth!
How to lasso lies and apply God’s truth to them
The second those thoughts start running in my head, I must take them captive like our verse today says: “We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (verse 5). Being a visual person, I can almost see it as old Calamity Jane gets out her lasso and ropes those thoughts, taking them captive. Then after taking the thoughts captive, I begin to apply the truth to them.
Is the doctor going to give me bad news?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NLT
Are we going to have enough money for our bills this month?
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT
What am I supposed to do about this situation with my kids?
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
James 1:5 NLT
God is a Promise-Fulfiller
We have to trust Him. When God promises, He delivers! In the book of Numbers, we find God leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised land. They rebelled and they sinned but He didn’t leave the Israelites in the wilderness forever. Yes, there was waiting and wandering, but God fulfilled his promise to them and delivered them to the promised land! He is faithful and trustworthy. The Bible is the written history of God’s faithfulness to His people—proof that God comes through on His promises.
As we apply truth to the lies in our minds, we start changing our thoughts and perspective. As our thinking changes, we begin to have a different mindset, which in turn changes our attitude. We aren’t filled with worries or altered narratives, we are filled with truth, hope, and joy.
An exercise for fellow worry warts
Today I invite you to take a few minutes to sit and be still with God. Listen to what narrative you have going in your mind, write it down, and then start applying truths to it. When the thoughts creep back up, take them captive again, reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness and love.
Lord forgive me when I doubt You and Your ways. When I feel like I’m in the wilderness, help me to remember that not only did You deliver the Israelites to the promised land, You are never changing. You are the same then as You are today. Your Word proves Your faithfulness to me.
Help me change my thoughts and take them captive by applying Your truths to them. I can’t do this on my own; I need you. Grant me strength and discipline to change my thoughts and mindset, aligning them with Your ways. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Meet Brianna Barrett
Brianna is a Carolina girl that loves Jesus and her family. She enjoys watching the sunrise, photography, reading, and paddleboarding. According to her teenage son, she’s a master chef in the kitchen making gluten-free cuisine from around the world. Join her at www.briannagrams.com and connect with her on Instagram @sunriseoceanwave.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
10 Things You Might Be Doing That Keep Your Friendships Shallow
(+ 1 Simple Habit to Shift Your Direction)
If you long for deep, meaningful relationships, this is for you!
Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
