Introduction
Intrusive thoughts can feel overwhelming, especially when they seem to pop up out of nowhere. Whether it’s negative thoughts, blasphemous thoughts, or even sexual thoughts, these unwelcome ideas can cause a lot of distress. But what does the Bible say about intrusive thoughts?
As Christians, intrusive thoughts can even be more disturbing to our peace, because we add the feeling of guilt to it. Guilt for having those thoughts—as if we aren’t ‘good’ Christians. Even though we can feel that way, does God punish us for having such thoughts? Is thinking bad thoughts a sin?
The good news is that, as believers, we don’t have to fight the battle of disturbing thoughts alone! The Holy Spirit is on our side, and with the guidance of God’s Word, we can clear our minds of those thoughts and replace them with more healthy thoughts—Godly thoughts.
With this blog, you will learn how to fight evil thoughts, surrender to God, and think godly thoughts instead.
Let’s dive into what the Bible says about intrusive thoughts and how we can deal with them biblically.
What are intrusive thoughts?
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Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, often disturbing thoughts that suddenly enter our minds. These can range from thoughts of violence, sinful desires, or even just random, negative ideas that leave us feeling anxious.
Everyone has them from time to time, but when they become frequent or obsessive, they can affect our mental health. Even though intrusive thoughts feel troubling, it’s important to remember they do not define us.
To us Christians, intrusive thoughts are thoughts that do not reflect God’s values and are not in line with His will.
Intrusive thoughts are a tool of the enemy, trying to bombard us with evil thoughts to distract us and take away our peace. And after giving us those thoughts, the enemy whispers guilt and shame in our ears, making us feel even more dreadful and causing us great distress.
But don’t worry, God is on your side! He has the solution, and He has given you the power to overcome intrusive thoughts.
Further down in this blog. We’ll look at what does the Bible say about intrusive thoughts.
Now, let’s look at the answer to an important question: are intrusive thoughts a sin?
Is it a sin to think intrusive thoughts?
The simple answer is no—having intrusive thoughts is not a sin. Why?
Christ Jesus, Who understands the human heart better than anyone, knows that we can’t always control the thoughts that enter our minds. Thoughts can enter our minds, causing us to think of them. We don’t literally create our own thoughts.
We need to be aware, though, that those thoughts enter our minds through channels:
- negative people around us,
- horror movies,
- things linked to the occult,
- violent or inappropriate media,
- social media influences,
- toxic environments,
- unhealthy conversations,
- exposure to fear-inducing news,
- unfiltered internet content,
- music with negative or harmful lyrics,
- spiritual attacks,
- and even our own unresolved trauma or past experiences.
As Christians, it’s important to guard our hearts and minds against anything that opens the door to unwanted or intrusive thoughts. By recognizing these channels, we can be more intentional about guarding our minds and surrounding ourselves with what aligns with God’s truth.
We saw it is not an unpardonable sin to think intrusive thoughts. Those bad thoughts simply enter our minds.
It’s not the initial thought that’s sinful, but what we do with it. When these unwanted thoughts appear, it’s our job to turn to the knowledge of God, using the word of God as a two-edged sword to cut through them.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
There is a difference between temptation and sin. Having negative or sinful thoughts doesn’t necessarily mean you are sinning. The Bible distinguishes between temptation and sin. Even Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11), yet He did not sin.
James 1:14-15 helps clarify this idea:
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
This scripture passage shows that thoughts themselves aren’t sin, but if we let them grow and act upon them, that’s when they can lead to sin. It’s a reminder that having negative or unwanted thoughts is part of being human, but we have the choice to reject them.
Having intrusive thoughts or bad thoughts is a form of temptation or spiritual attack. It’s what we do with those evil thoughts—whether we entertain them or resist them—that matters.
Thus, are intrusive thoughts a sin? We can then say it is not a sin to have those intrusive thoughts, but if we entertain those thoughts and dwell on them, it can become a sin.
What does God say about intrusive thoughts?
First, let’s answer the question: does god know my thoughts? Because God can only say something about our intrusive thoughts if He actually knows our thoughts.
Well, God’s Word says:
“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2 (NIV)
Thus, yes, God knows our thoughts. And that’s a good thing!
And actually, God knows our everything…
God loves us, and He knows our flesh and our weaknesses. So he equipped us with exactly what we need to get rid of those negative thoughts. It’s a spiritual battle, but we have already won, through Jesus Christ, who died for us and strengthens us.
God’s word is full of encouragement for when we struggle with intrusive thoughts. For example, He promises peace when we focus on Him. And Philippians 4:8 helps us to understand what to think about—things that are true, honorable, just, pure, and worthy of praise.
God also understands how we feel and that it is normal to happen, even to Christians. Did you know even the Apostle Paul struggled with it?
Romans 7:22-23 speaks to the internal battle with thoughts:
“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”
Paul himself experienced a struggle between his desire to follow God’s law and the thoughts and temptations in his mind. This shows that it is not strange to experience intrusive or bad thoughts, and it’s a normal part of the Christian life to deal with this inner conflict.
A great way to deal with our inner critic (one of the voices of intrusive thoughts) is by using inner critic worksheets.
While our minds can feel like a factory of thoughts—both good and bad—God offers us perfect peace when we fix our minds on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Isaiah 26:3 assures us He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in Him.
God also gave us His Holy Spirit, to work within us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). This renewal is a constant process as we let go of old, sinful thoughts and embrace the mind of Christ.
When intrusive thoughts enter, it’s not always easy to redirect our minds, but God has equipped us with tools to do just that. He’s given us His Word as a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), powerful enough to cut through any negative or unwanted thought. By focusing on Scripture and prayer, we can take each thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The good news is that we don’t face these battles alone. Through God’s help, we can overcome any unwanted or intrusive thoughts and experience His perfect peace.
Instead of letting thoughts spiral into anxiety, panic, or fear, we can call on the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7).
God’s love and grace allow us to stand firm, knowing that no intrusive thought can separate us from the victory we have in Christ Jesus!
Does God punish me for intrusive thoughts?
We saw in the previous sections that having intrusive thoughts isn’t a sin. Dwelling on them, entertaining them, can lead to sin.
The interesting thing is that even if we dwell on those thoughts, God will not punish us. Why? He is a loving God, a loving Heavenly Father. As much as He doesn’t want us to think those thoughts, as he knows they aren’t helpful for us, He will not punish us.
We can reach out to Him and ask for His help and forgiveness. And you know what? He will forgive. He will help.
God also understands our weaknesses—He created us, so He knows. It is the reason He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for us. So that in Him we may have the victory.
Hebrews 4:15 confirms the fact that Jesus understands our struggles:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
This verse shows Christ Jesus faced temptations and thoughts but did not sin, encouraging us to come to Him for help when we struggle.
Thus, God does not punish us for having intrusive thoughts.
These thoughts are not always a reflection of who we are, but stem from our sinful nature or even traumatic events. What’s important is how we respond.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can resist deceitful desires and thoughts. God’s grace is greater than any fiery darts the enemy throws at us. So, if you struggle with horrible thoughts, know that God is your helper and will uphold you with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Let’s dive into what does the Bible say about intrusive thoughts and find Bible verses to fight evil thoughts.
What Bible verse talks about intrusive thoughts?
The Bible provides us with powerful verses to help us deal with intrusive thoughts, encouraging us to take them captive and align them with God’s truth and God’s will.
Here is a list of key Bible verses to fight evil thoughts, that address thoughts, minds, and the power we have through Christ to overcome negative or unwanted intrusive thoughts.
For each Bible verse, you’ll find an explanation of the meaning of that particular verse.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
This verse is the most important verse that addresses intrusive thoughts. First, it helps us understand that fighting intrusive thoughts is spiritual warfare, not physical. Second, it confirms God has given us weapons to fight. Third, those weapons have divine power! The power to destroy strongholds. And our minds can harbor a lot of strongholds! And last, it confirms arguments, thoughts, and opinions can be defeated and brought to obedience to Christ.
These words remind us we have the power, through Christ, to take control of our thought life.
Philippians 4:8
“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.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Philippians 4 verse 8 is the antidote against intrusive negative thoughts. If we think of godly things, we don’t give space for the devil to inject us with evil thoughts, evil thoughts, and all kinds of thoughts that go against the will of God.
And God didn’t make it a mystery what we should occupy our minds with—He made it clear in this verse in Philippians.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
This Bible verse in Romans tells us we can be renewed in our minds. If our minds are renewed, the intrusive thoughts will stop. And if some will try to enter (as thoughts can randomly come), we know at once what to do and kick them out.
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
When our minds are full of negative and intrusive thoughts, we don’t have peace. But the Bible says it is possible to have peace of mind: when we trust in God and keep our minds steadfast on Him, He will give us peace.
And again, we don’t have to do this alone. The Spirit of God is our helper.
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
Setting our minds on godly things will pave the way for godly thoughts. We can memorize this Bible verse. And anytime the devil attacks with intrusive thoughts, we can remind ourselves of the truth in this scripture and tune our thoughts to God.
Psalm 139:23-24
“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 (NIV)
God knows our hearts and our thoughts. He knows we can have anxious thoughts. We can ask Him to check our hearts and thoughts, cleanse us, and lead us in His eternal ways.
Ephesians 4:22-24
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
Here we are let known to lay off our old self, with bad thoughts. And to put on the new self, which is in righteousness and holiness—then our thoughts will be positive thoughts. And Ephesians tells us here that we can reach that by renewing our minds.
In Christ, we are a new creation. When we renew our minds, automatically the intrusive thoughts will stop.
James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8 (NIV)
Intrusive thoughts are often from the devil. James gives us the best way to deal with that: submitting ourselves to God. Simple. And the devil will run away by himself. Grow close to God and he will be near to you, protecting your hearts and minds.
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
IN this verse in 1 Peter, we are asked to have sober and alert minds. When our minds are alert, we will notify when intrusive thoughts try to come in. We can then deal with them at once.
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Proverbs teaches us that everything else flows from our hearts. Thus, our thoughts are connected to what is in our hearts. True. What is in our hearts fills our thoughts and usually also our mouths (with words related to what is in our hearts).
When we protect our hearts, guard it against evil influences, our minds and thoughts will also be guarded nd free.
Matthew 5:28
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 (NIV)
Matthew is about sexual intrusive thoughts, but can be in relation to any other type of bad thoughts. The Bible says here that if we even think of sin, we have already committed the sin. Therefore it is better to guard our thoughts and ask the Holy Spirit to help us keep our minds and thoughts clean.
Romans 8:6
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Romans 8 verse 6 warns that if we allow fleshly desires to rule our minds, our minds are dead. We have a task here—to let our minds be governed by the Spirit instead. It’s a choice. But when we choose right, God promises us life and peace. That will be alife without intrusive thoughts!
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Philippians tells us that we can pray instead of fret. When we pray, with thanksgiving, we will limit intrusive and anxious thoughts. Because God promises that when we do that, He will give us the peace of God, guard our hearts, and protect our minds.
It can be challenging to pray when negative thoughts bombard us. Having negative thoughts while praying can really distract us. But we can overcome that by reading what the bile says about intrusive thoughts and taking the action needed to overcome negative thinking.
Romans 8:5
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5 (NIV)
Romans 8 explains here how comes that we get bad thoughts, fleshly thoughts. Because of the way we live, the things we do, or because of some things in our lives. To prevent intrusive thoughts, we may need to change our mindset and tune in on the Spirit of God.
When we live based on God’s will, our minds will automatically turn to what God desires. We will get godly thoughts.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Here we see how God’s Spirit helps us to fight evil thoughts. He gave us power! And He gave us self-discipline; a much-needed trait when trying to live in line with God’s will.
Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
This famous verse in Matthew can also be seen in relation to intrusive thoughts. When we fret and are anxious, we fill our minds with worries. Worries are usually about ‘tomorrow.’ But God wants us to focus on now, and to trust Him in everything.
When we do that, by and by, our minds will be clear of intrusive thoughts.
Now, what does the Bible say about intrusive thoughts and overcoming them?
How to deal with intrusive thoughts biblically?
Before we look at how to deal practically with intrusive thoughts (in a biblical way), let’s lay a foundation for understanding.
To be free of intrusive thoughts, it isn’t enough to deal with them and get rid of them. Because if we leave our minds empty afterward, the intrusive thoughts will simply return—like the evil spirit who was sacked and roamed around.
When he returned to his former house and found it nicely cleaned, but empty, he went to get seven more evil spirits and returned to that house. The same with our minds. After cleaning our minds, we need to refill our minds: with godly thoughts.
Having said that, we also need to acknowledge that dealing with intrusive thoughts can be a constant battle. But God has given us tools to fight back.
Here is the biblical way to tackle those unwanted thoughts.
Three-step method to deal with intrusive thoughts:
- Remove existing thoughts from your mind. Catch them and throw them out. Eliminate every negative thought and feeling from your mind. Do away with your former way of thinking. God has provided you with the tools to do exactly that. One of those effective tools is: taking thoughts captive. Capture those negative thoughts and replace them with God’s truth (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Reject new negative thoughts. Don’t permit new negative thoughts and feelings to enter, even when they trace back to real occurrences and situations in your life. Do not let them in. Learn to let go of the past. Keep your mind under the obedience of Christ.
- Refill your mind with God’s thoughts. Avoid leaving your mind empty. Instead, fill your mind with positive thoughts, godly thoughts. What are godly thoughts? First, God’s thoughts about you as described in His Word (your identity in Christ). His thoughts for you are for good and not for evil, to give you hope and a future. This means you need to think good thoughts about yourself. Second, godly thoughts are thoughts about God’s good news of the gospel. And third, godly thoughts relate to the type of things you think about: the topics you ponder in your mind should be godly: 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. Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Thus: REMOVE > REJECT > REFILL.
The three-step method helps you change your mindset.
Besides this, we can make use of intrusive thoughts worksheets, to help identify which thoughts are intrusive and to learn to replace them with godly thoughts.
How to think godly thoughts instead
We just saw that the way to deal with intrusive thoughts in a biblical way is to think godly thoughts. But how do you do that?
You do that by renewing your mind. And you renew your mind through God’s Word.
Here are the 8 things to do to ensure godly thoughts:
- Use the Word of God. The Bible is our double-edged sword. Keep scriptures in your heart that remind you of God’s love, peace, and protection. Verses like Philippians 4:7 assure us of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Having God’s Word at the forefront of your mind will help you cut through the lies and distortions that negative thoughts can bring.
- Christian meditation. Take time to meditate on God’s Word. This isn’t the same as emptying your mind as the world may suggest, but rather, it’s filling your mind with Scripture. Meditate on a verse like Psalm 19:14: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord.” Let God’s truth sink deeply into your heart and mind.
- Positive affirmations and declarations. Speak Bible verses over your mind, such as Romans 12:2, which reminds us to renew our minds. Declare out loud that you have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Affirm that your thoughts are aligned with God’s will and His truth. This practice not only renews your mind but reinforces what you already know is true.
- Daily prayer. Talk to God about the battle in your mind. A simple breath prayer, like “Lord Jesus Christ, give me peace,” can help refocus your thoughts when they start to drift into negativity. Prayer is a powerful weapon to shift your thought life into a godly direction, as you invite the Holy Spirit to take control.
- Focus on good things. Philippians 4:8 is a great reminder to shift our focus to good thoughts—things that are worthy of praise, lovely, and pure. Make a habit of surrounding yourself with positive influences, whether through uplifting music, Scripture, Christian books, or conversations with others. The more you fill your mind with godly things, the less room there is for negative or intrusive thoughts.
- Lean on Christian friends. Sometimes we need support. Find a trusted friend or Christian counselor to talk to when intrusive thoughts are weighing you down. Often, just the fact of talking about it releases your mind and sets you free. Why? Because when you expose the lies of the enemy and bring them into the light through confession, they lose their power. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another, that we may be healed.
- Guard your heart and mind. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it. Be mindful of what you allow into your mind and spirit. This includes what you watch, listen to, and the company you keep. If something consistently triggers negative thoughts, it’s time to make a change and prioritize what nourishes your soul and keeps your mind fixed on Christ.
- Rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to win the battle for your mind on your own. The Holy Spirit is your helper (John 14:26), guiding you into all truth. Lean on His strength and ask Him to renew your mind daily. It is through His power that we can demolish strongholds and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The Spirit gives us the fruit of self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), which includes the ability to control our thought life.
Take-away what does the bible say about intrusive thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are tough, but God doesn’t leave us alone in this battle. He’s equipped us with His word, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit to fight back. Throughout this blog, we looked at what does the Bible say about intrusive thoughts.
We’ve seen that God doesn’t judge us or punish us when we have intrusive thoughts. He loves us. He wants us to be free.
We’ve discussed various Bible verses about intrusive thoughts that can help us clean our minds and re-focus on God and the things of God. We have been equipped with various Bible verses to fight evil thoughts.
You’ve learned how to deal with intrusive thoughts biblically, with the three-way method REMOVE > REJECT > REFILL. And we went into detail about how to think godly thoughts.
The most important thing to know is that intrusive thoughts in itself aren’t sinful. What you do with it is important. You have the choice to reject and rebuke them. Know that your thoughts don’t define you—what matters is how you respond.
So next time those unwanted thoughts come creeping in, take them captive, turn to God, and trust in His perfect peace.