Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Controlling Your Thoughts?

14 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Controlling Your Thoughts in the Bible

Discover 15 powerful Bible verses about controlling your thoughts. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.

14
Total Verses
0
Old Testament
14
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Controlling Your Thoughts

  1. 1
    Mark 7:20
    And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Romans 8:6
    For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. to be carnally: Gr. the minding of the flesh to be spiritually: Gr. the minding of the Spirit
    KJV
  3. 3
    Romans 12:2
    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Romans 12:17
    Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Romans 14:1
    Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts
    KJV
  6. 6
    Galatians 5:16
    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye: or, fulfil not
    KJV
  7. 7
    Ephesians 4:32
    And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Philippians 2:2
    Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded , having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
    KJV
  9. 9
    Philippians 4:8
    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. honest: or, venerable
    KJV
  10. 10
    Colossians 3:1
    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
    KJV

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Controlling Your Thoughts? (14 Verses)

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. to be carnally: Gr. the minding of the flesh to be spiritually: Gr. the minding of the Spirit
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye: or, fulfil not
And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded , having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. honest: or, venerable
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Controlling Your Thoughts

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about controlling your thoughts. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about controlling your thoughts and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about controlling your thoughts is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on controlling your thoughts needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about controlling your thoughts with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about controlling your thoughts, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Controlling Your Thoughts?

You have studied 14 verses about controlling your thoughts. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about controlling your thoughts?
Discover 15 powerful Bible verses about controlling your thoughts. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic. The Bible contains 14 key verses about controlling your thoughts spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about controlling your thoughts are there?
There are 14 key Bible verses about controlling your thoughts compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about controlling your thoughts?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about controlling your thoughts is Mark 7:20 — "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man."
Where in the Bible does it talk about controlling your thoughts?
Controlling Your Thoughts is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 14 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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