10 Steps to Mastering Your Thoughts and Moods

Like the old saying goes, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” That is how it is with our thought life and our moods. Which came first, the negative thought or the foul mood and then the negative thoughts? No matter which came first, the two go hand in hand. You can become a master at controlling your thoughts and moods by practicing these ten exercises and you can fulfill this passage from Scripture at the same time, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).

1. Memorize this passage of Scripture and put it into practice.
 “…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).

2. Another good way to halt and change the direction of negative thoughts and bad moods is to stop and begin to thank God for all that is good or right in your life.
It is hard to be in a bad mood or have negative thoughts when you start to list your blessings. Depending upon the severity of the mood, a short list will probably start to lift your spirits, but if it doesn’t, try listing the things we often overlook…dig deep in your heart for what you might have that others long to have (eye sight, hearing, food, clothes, shelter, the ability to walk, bend over, joints that don’t ache, etc).

3. Start a hope list.
Think about all that you would like to have happen over the next year and write it down. Then think about all the things you would like to have happen over the next six months and write them down. Then make a list of the things you would like to have happen over the next month and write them down. Pick one item from each list and write steps that you can take to make these things a reality. Pray about your hope list and visit it often to make changes, mark progress, and add steps to help you accomplish these things.

4. Another way to change the course of your thoughts is to stop and ask God to take control of your day.
Just give the day over to God and let him know you need His help. This usually provides some much needed comfort and the hope that things will begin to change.

5. Taking action is a great way to lift your spirits.
It could be taking action against a dirty house (if you do this one, start with one room, and start with a small chore first so you can see your progress), or it could be starting to work on a project that has been sitting for a long time, or it could be writing a letter. The possibilities for this exercise are endless.

6. Take a walk and use the time to either talk to God, or listen to an audio sermon, the Bible on tape or Christian music.
The walk alone should help give your mood a boost, and the time spent worshiping will be an added lift.

7. Write down all the negative thoughts you are having and then spend some time looking through the Bible for verses that oppose your thoughts.
A quick and easy way to do this is by buying a book that addresses everyday problems with Scriptures. A good one is called “God’s Promises for Every Day”, the New Century Version.

8. Say the Lord’s Prayer over and over again until you can get through it without having any other thoughts intrude (you might find that you have to say it up to ten times).
 Start over every time you catch your mind wandering.

9. Think about the people you know and the struggles they are having, or think about people in parts of the world and their struggles.
Stop and say a prayer for all those you thought about.

10. Sing your favorite Christian song from beginning to end.
Keep singing it until you start to feel better.

If you try all ten exercises, and you find that you still can’t shake those negative thoughts or a bad mood, then keep in mind that the real Master is always there to assist you and with His help and guidance, you will be tapped into the ultimate source of joy and strength. You can also call everyone you know and let them know that God created both the chicken and the egg, and the mystery is just His way of fowling around.