A Prayer Against Evil Thoughts

As believers whose hearts have been changed, we desire to honor God with everything in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.). That means we want to be holy not just in our actions but starting in our thoughts. Our thoughts reflect the state of our hearts because the heart is the core of our being. It is where the seat of our emotions, desires, choices, and thoughts come from. At times we may struggle, thinking thoughts that are not good and, at the same time, thoughts that are honoring to God, for there is a battle between the flesh and the spirit in us (Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ). But our hope and encouragement is that the Holy Spirit is at work in us and that our minds become renewed as we get into God’s Word daily (Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:) (Romans 12:2).

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to develop the habit of always getting into Your Word daily—always filling my mind with it and letting my mind be renewed by it so that I may know what is good, acceptable, and pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

 

What Does the Bible Say About Our Thoughts?

The thoughts that we think have deeper roots that come from the heart. In Matthew 15:19, Jesus says that evil thoughts come ultimately from the heart. What our minds think and how they think is influenced by the heart. For example, why does a person think of murderous thoughts out of hatred? It is because sin lies at the heart of the person. That is why, when Jesus came, He came not to make us good people but to change our hearts. It is when we become a new creation and have a new heart that the desires of our hearts are changed. That does not mean overnight perfection, but the longing of our hearts is different. If before we didn’t care if we sinned, now we hate sin and desire to honor God even with our thoughts. God’s grace is at work in us to desire and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.).

As we continually strive to be holy, including in our minds and thoughts, it would be helpful to know what the Bible says about thoughts. Getting into what the Bible says about what our thoughts ought to be encourages us and gives us the grace to live God’s Word out, for there is grace whenever we read it.

In Philippians 4:8, it is written that whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable, we are to think about and practice those things. Practicing them begins by first thinking about them. Also, in Colossians 3:2, it is written that we are to set our minds not on the things of this earth but on the things above, where Christ is seated. Those scriptures are essential in the sense that we can use them in prayer, in which we ask the Holy Spirit for grace and power so this is what would fill our minds.

While fighting against evil thoughts is primarily the effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives through the work of God’s grace, we also have a part to play. Proverbs 4:23 says that we are to guard our hearts, for from there is the wellspring of life. Guarding our hearts means that God always remains the One enthroned in our hearts. If God is enthroned in our hearts, then every area of our life should submit to Him, even our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 also tells us that we are to take captive all thoughts and make them obedient to Christ. Whatever evil thoughts we have, they should yield and submit to the authority of Christ and be eliminated. Since what we think comes from our hearts, it is essential to constantly renew our minds daily with God’s Word, as written in Romans 12:2. Scripture is where we can discern God’s will and what is good, acceptable, and perfect. We become what we are always filling ourselves with. Therefore we must always consume God’s Word and be renewed by it.

How Can I Pray Against Evil Thoughts?

The verses that we have given above make good prayers against evil thoughts. But first, we should remember that when we pray, we approach God from the position of humility (James 4:6). We come to God because we need His grace when it comes to battling evil thoughts (Hebrews 4:16). As we come before God’s throne of grace, we ask Him for the grace and mercy to help us have thoughts that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. We also pray for the grace to continually seek the things from above. All of this comes from grace, for which we must always go back to the Gospel. We desire honorable thoughts because that is what would please God. We want to please God, knowing what Christ has done. When we see the beauty of Christ because of the Gospel, we will want to seek things that are above as well.

Holy Spirit, I pray that You would sanctify my mind of evil thoughts. Instead, I pray that my mind shall always seek the things above and be filled with true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable thoughts. May my thoughts always be pleasing to You. Empower me, and give me the grace that I need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

You can also pray by asking God for help in terms of the responsibility you have for battling against evil thoughts; namely, guarding your heart and constantly renewing your mind with God’s Word.

Holy Spirit, help me develop the discipline of always reading Your Word and meditating on it day and night. Renew my mind, and may my heart’s desires always align with Your Word. Help me always seek the things above and take captive every thought I have, being obedient to Christ. Give me also the grace to continually guard my heart, for that is where the seat of my thoughts lies. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Battling against evil thoughts is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work with you. If your heart is unchanged, you won’t be bothered by those evil thoughts. You care about your thoughts and want to think only godly thoughts because your heart desires to honor God. As you do that, remember that you are not to do it by your strength but through Christ Who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). You move in grace.