Dear Rev. I keep thinking bad thoughts, terrible things. I pray that they will go away and usually I start singing Christian songs when they come into my head. How can I stop them?

Getting control of our thoughts isn’t easy, but it can be done. The Bible talks about “bringing into captivity every thought” so it’s possible to get control (II Corinthians 10:5). Singing Christian songs is a good idea and beneficial for us spiritually. The source of bad thoughts often come from what we see or listen to. There are a lot of TV programs that can give us bad thoughts as well as some kinds of music. We have to be careful what we fill our minds with. You may have also noticed a lot of times bad thoughts come when you are overtired. The secret here is not to pay attention to them and realize you are just tired. Then get some sleep as soon as you can. Finally, if you have had any dealings with the occult, you may be experiencing demonic oppression. If this is so, please let me know. The Lord will help you get control of your thoughts so just talk to Him about what you’re struggling with. I will also keep you in my prayers.