A Prayer to Help Me Stop Overthinking
By Kristine Brown
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2 NLT
I’m a classic overthinker. Give me a problem to solve, and I’ll come up with every outcome imaginable. This character trait comes in handy when my child forgets about a project due tomorrow. Or when I’m trying to fit all the family’s activities into one cohesive calendar. But when I’m facing deeper issues, my overthinking can lead to worry and stress.
I’ll fret over a problem until exhaustion takes over, getting no closer to an answer. Because even though I know I can’t solve it on my own, I struggle with giving my cares to God and letting go.
Have you ever thought and thought about a problem until you worried yourself sick? I’ve been there, and I’ve felt the effects that worry and stress can have on our physical bodies and on the lives of our loved ones. But God’s powerful Word in Colossians 3:2 shows us a better way to occupy our minds, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
In chapter 3 of Colossians, the apostle Paul gave believers unquestionable direction for how to live their lives. He offered a mindset shift.
Paul showed the church what mattered most as new Christians, “Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:11b) He pointed them away from sinful desires and encouraged them to clothe themselves in “tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Paul’s letter still applies to our lives today— when sinful desires tempt us or when we focus too intently on our worldly problems rather than our heavenly hope. “Focusing on the things of heaven” can be our battle cry when we fall into the trap of overthinking.
Turning our thoughts to Jesus calms our weary hearts and relieves the heaviness of carrying the weight of our problems. We will discover less stress and more peace when we stop overthinking and focus on God and his goodness. Let’s begin with this prayer.
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord,
I’ve been worrying again. I’ve let my problems consume me, and I’ve forgotten to give my cares to you in prayer. Forgive me, Lord, for focusing too much on my circumstances. Help me stop overthinking everything and trust you in all things.
I know you created me with unique traits and abilities. I want to help and to serve others, but my overthinking can get in the way. I spend time trying to solve problems rather than trusting you. Help me remember the truth of your promises when I’m tempted to worry. Help me remember to, “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
You are a loving and faithful Father. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) shows me this, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Thinking about your faithfulness brings joy and peace to my weary heart. Stress fades away when I focus on who you are rather than on my problems. I trust you in all things because you are good. Have your way in my life, God.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/tommaso79
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Saturday, 04 March 2023.
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