Overthinking

What is Overthinking?

In basic terms, overthinking is studying a problem past its solution.  It is a behavior that follows us all but some more than others, with other factors playing a part in it (such as anxiety).  In my experience, people who deal with overthinking are usually pretty smart.  They. are good at analyzing and deciphering things and, many times, have a strong academic history.  The problem is usually not their intelligence level; the problem is usually that they are often hindered by fear - fears of failure, bad grades, being hurt, making the wrong decision, humiliation, or disappointing people they love.  People who overthink have often reported feeling like they deal with perfectionism as well.  Perfection is a fear of something not being perfect or "ideal" for the overthinker.

Demonic Interruptions in Overthinking

The bigger issue of overthinking are the demonic spirits that try to infiltrate our thoughts.  Demonic spirits feed off fear and perfectionism.    They work to exaggerate our thinking, criticize our decisions, and even make us question what we know the Holy Spirit told us to do.  Before we know it, we are swimming in a sea of assumptions, accusations, and fears of things that have not even happened.

Assumptions are scenarios based on our understanding.  Accusations are scenarios based on our understanding and feelings.  Fears of things that have not happened are scenarios based on our understanding, feelings, and sometimes past traumas.  Collectively, they all cause us to lean on our own understanding, and, spiritually, they all cause conflict with receiving counsel from the Holy Spirit.

Many people defend their overthinking by saying that God allowed them to go through things so that they will be better able to analyze situations.  While this is true, there is a difference between learning from your past hurt and being fearful because of your past hurt.  Fears from past hurts should not supersede God's Word and spiritual discernment.  If your fear says, "No," and God says, "Yes,"  who do you answer to?  If we make decisions based on fear, accusations, and assumptions, we are saying to God, "My thoughts are my Scripture.  My thoughts and fears are a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, not Your Word (see Psalm 119:105).  Everything I need lies in everything I have been through."  Another trick of the devil is having us view our overthinking as "spiritual discernment."  Satan wants us to not know the difference between overthinking and spiritual discernment so that we will confuse or even mix the two.  If we mix the two, he can cause even more demonic interruption and confusion, while the Sprit of God wants to bring us into a sound mind and silence the deceptive spirits.

How to Respond to Overthinking

If you are dealing with overthinking, try doing the following:

1. Pray for God to give you a sound mind.  God specializes in quieting the voices that go on inside our heads looking to draw us away from Him.

2. Meditate on 2 Timothy 1:7.  This Scripture says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind."  Decide and declare today that you will become one-minded and led by one Voice.

3. Begin turning to God for answers and following them.  We serve a God Who hears and a God Who heals.  A God Who Is ever ready to offer divine counsel.  You are not alone in your problem solving.  God is a convenient (and FREE) source of advice for all of your problems.

4. Meditate.  Meditation is great for mental health and works wonders to calming your mind when it goes out of control.  Find a good meditation instructor, start with small allotments of time, and work your way up.

5. Start journaling.  Even it is once a week, journaling is good for communicating with God.  For overthinking, it is good for brain dumping. Brain dumping is pouring out all of your thoughts on paper in no particular order, just to free up some space up there instead of carrying it all around.  It also gives you a chance to see everything you are thinking, store it away, and come back to it if necessary.  Journaling is also good organizing your thoughts, listing out problems as well as their solutions, and God's response to your problems.  What does the Word of God say about how to deal with your problems?  You may find solutions be writing the Scripture reference next to the problem.

6. Test the spirits using 1 John 4:1.  Demonic spirits will start quieting down when you start making them confess that Jesus came in the flesh.  Don't miss this.  This will make the difference between what voices continue raising questions during your overthinking.

7. Go after what is yours.  The enemy doesn't want you married - go get your husband.  He's waited long enough while you spent a year sorting through all the positives and negatives about him.  If he is a faithful Man of God who loves you unconditionally, respects you unconditionally, and has the traits of a providing husband and father, go and get your husband.  The enemy doesn't want you to have that job promotion - pray on that offer.  If God gives you the "Yes," tell your boss you accept.  The enemy doesn't want you to start that business - pray on the vision one more time for clarity.  When God gives you the "Yes," start small and let God water your seed.  The enemy doesn't want you to have that home - pray for God to guide your decision on the location.  If God gives you the "Yes," pay the closing costs and "start your roots," as Grannie used to say.

Overthinking may be your situation, but it is not your destination.  God is going to start delivering you from the mental and spiritual dragging of overthinking.  I am praying that God will start to calm your mind and silence the questions thrown at you by the enemy.  One mind and one spirit.  In the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

By: Minister Micah