What to do when your mind won’t shut up.

Are you an overthinker?

It’s easy to get stuck ruminating on something exciting, a concern, a problem, or a project. We all experience overthinking sometimes, and it can leave us feeling drained, stressed, defeated, and anxious. My most common time to overthink is in the middle of the night when I wake up and can’t go back to sleep. How about you?

But here is what helps me. I seek to sense God's presence in that moment. God is always with us. It is his promise, as we see, for example, in Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20, and Romans 8:38-39.

Once I remind myself that God is with me, I pray. I talk to God about whatever is plaguing my mind. Then, I recite as many portions of Scripture as I can remember. If I am still struggling, I mentally sing worship songs, even if it is just the chorus. Do you see the pattern? I practice spiritual disciplines to turn off my overthinking. And this works wonders!

Spiritual disciplines are anchors that ground my beliefs and provide comfort and solace during life's storms. Examples of such practices include prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, worship, and reflection. They serve as pathways to connect me with Jesus and cultivate a deeper faith. Suddenly, I find peace knowing that even during moments of overthinking, I can use the time to strengthen my bond with God and experience his peace.

There are good reasons to incorporate these practices into our lives, especially when we’re stuck overthinking things. Just as our bodies require nourishment to thrive, our spirits also need sustenance. Engaging in spiritual practices nourishes our souls, gives us a heavenly mindset, and opens our hearts to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. The practices allow us to seek guidance and wisdom from our Heavenly Father to navigate life's challenges with grace and clarity. As we commit to these practices with sincerity and devotion, we open ourselves to experiencing God's profound love and presence in our lives.

Kayleigh and I have been discussing Spiritual Practices on our Uncharted with Inés Franklin podcast. You can watch or listen to it here: https://www.inesfranklin.com/unchartedpodcast. 

Next time you find yourself overthinking, I encourage you to explore different spiritual practices and find those that resonate most deeply with your soul.

I pray that you will enjoy serenity and discovery in your spiritual journey.

P.S. I am glad you care.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Galatians 5:22-23 CSB