The Recipe for Stopping Nagging Thoughts
What is up with nagging thoughts or sometimes referred to as Ants? For instance, you’re minding your own business, then an argument arises, and now the argument repeats in your mind for several days. First, you envision what you said and if you handled the situation correctly, then you think how to handle the next situation, or how you could fix the prior situation, or how to be ready for a shade match next time around.
Seriously, these nagging thoughts can ruin your whole day or week if you let it. It can easily ruin your friendship, living situation, and work atmosphere. I was dealing with a nagging thought recently when I happened to read Deuteronomy 3:23 during my morning bible study.
Honestly, it was a super odd morning when I opened my bible and landed on this passage as if God knew I would need it. I never meditated on this passage before, but I knew the backstory. Plain and simple, it’s a short and to the point story. I read it feeling so sad for Moses, not being able to see the promised land. I didn’t understand why God was short in His response to Moses’ plead.
Deuteronomy 32:51–52 God gives the reason that Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land: “This is because . . . you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”
However, I truly believe God gave me this verse before encountering an unexpected situation at work that left me scratching my head. When I went back to the passage, it became clearer and more powerful to me from GOD’S perspective.
Moses begged God, “At that time I pleaded with the Lord. Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”
However, God already told Moses he will not see the promised land because of his aggressive act in Numbers 20. This has me wondering if Moses allowed those nagging thoughts to produce actions?
To some, God’s reply to Moses may have been harsh, but spiritually it was prevalent. “Enough of that!” God responded.
I say to you. If your thoughts replay the financial hurdles, family drama, work issues in your head, I challenge you to speak to it and command, “ENOUGH OF THAT!”
God continued, “Speak no more to me of this matter.” That’s the second command God gave to Moses regarding him seeing the promised land. Now speak forcefully to the repeated family history, FEAR, addictions, past guilt that replays in your mind. Speak to your thoughts and command, “SPEAK NO MORE TO ME OF THIS MATTER.” Deut. 3:26.
Next, God tells Moses to go on top of the mountain and view the promised land with his eyes, but he cannot physically step foot into it. Now, this may seem harsh, especially how Moses led God’s people out of Egypt and guided them while in the wilderness for 40 years. However, spiritually, I see how futuristic this action is for the next generation.
Now here’s my question for you. Where are you guiding the next generation? Or are you planting a place for your children or the community that you love so it can harvest for the next generation?
If God took you to the mountaintop and told you to look down, what will you see? Will you see building blocks, or will the land be empty?
Do not allow the nagging thoughts to distract you from preparing a way for the next generation. And definitely, do not allow your nagging thoughts to evoke action.
I think about my ancestors who were slaves. If they allowed the nagging thoughts of FEAR in their captivity to keep them down and to stop them from producing children in captivity, I probably wouldn’t have the freedom to send this email.
Tell me what you think below