Do you ever feel as though your mind has so many tabs open that you sift through during the day? Or like a spider's web weaving together thoughts that just become a confusing muddle? I'm sure you've heard of how our thoughts shape our realities, or perspectives of ourselves. It's amazing how the mind works in that it can recall memories from previous times in our lives, but it's awful for those embarrassing highlight reels, that always seems to come late at night and now you're cringing as you try to sleep. I've always been interested in thoughts, how they just appear before you realised their existence and now it's like a tiny radio in your head. You can put them on autopilot as you opt to daydream than listen to a conversation, you can use them to recreate recipes as you recall the way your mother used to cook. You can use them to -
His large hands cupped my breasts
Whoa
Where did that thought come from? Nothing I'd listed was remotely close to that topic and yet it just showed up randomly, almost like normal? We can just ignore it and continue with the conversation, where I talk about how God sees and knows all our thoughts.
Such a realisation makes it a bit awkward when we know the types of scenarios and thoughts we have running unchecked in our minds. Hebrews 4:12 explains how powerful the word of God is and its capability to 'expose and judge the very thoughts and intentions of the heart', verse 13 continues saying, 'and not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account' (AMP).
So God is going to question us about thoughts we've had and we must explain the reasoning for thinking such ways? Doesn't that make you want to be more aware of your thoughts and ensuring that you have thoughts which are good, noble, holy and pure?
One thing that I do which I think would help you in being vigilant over your thoughts is confession. Whenever I have a thought that I know I shouldn't be having whether it's lewd, wishing bad on someone, violent thoughts induced by anger, I confess them to God and repent. It can feel like an elephant in the room that obviously needs to be addressed, if I try to continue my day as though the thought never crossed my mind. Over time it gets easier to confess and even more than, it can get easier to not allow our mind to dwell on such thoughts because we ask Him for help to think the right thoughts. How amazing is God to want to help us and give us good thoughts to think!
There is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed to confess your thoughts to God if certain ones are coming to mind and you haven't repented (changed behaviour), you can do so now and know that this pleases God. He has such beautiful and intricate thoughts and imaginations to give us, let's make room for them as opposed to thoughts that invite sin, do not promote spiritual growth or harden us to love.
I'll leave you with this, ask God to daily renew your mind and overtime through the reading and mediating of the scriptures, you'll find that you begin to think differently and are quick to detect the wrong thoughts and not dwell on them.