Does God control our thoughts?

I am wondering if anyone thinks God puts thoughts into our minds? I don’t believe in free will but do understand that we are responsible for our actions. I believe God is sovereign over everything. Does anyone have an opinion about God and our thoughts?

Hi Leahmarie, and welcome to CC!

Your thread title question is very different from your post, so I'll answer them separately.

No, God does not control our thoughts. There's no evidence in Scripture of that. There is a huge difference between controlling and influencing. You control a car; you influence a fellow human. We aren't automatons.

Yes, God does put thoughts into our minds; that's one way that He speaks to us. He did this with many of the biblical characters.

Thank you! I’m a new Christian and I’m just trying to figure this all out. So what about bad thoughts? I have a lot of negative thoughts and I’m just wondering how I tackle this. I guess I can try to replace them with bible verses but it’s tough. Is it the enemy doing this?

If God were controlling our thoughts, then he'd be controlling us. If God were controlling us we wouldn't sin.

Bad thoughts and behaviors are part of a Christians life. Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament said "I do what I do not want to do, and what I want to do I do not do".
The goal is to resist them as best you can, and some things you may eventually overcome. I've yet to meet a Christian who wasn't prone to unChristian thoughts and feelings.

depending on the source of negative thoughts affects how you deal with them. The first step is to replace them. Scriptures that directly go against the negative thought are, obviously ideal.
If, over time, there seems to be no change it may be time to consider other basis for your thoughts.
Were you raised around or by negative people? That can be harder and take longer to see progress. Do you have a mental illness? Search things out.
But most of all be patient with yourself and with learning and change. Don't expect anything will happen quickly or easily. And you Will screw up, and that's ok. That's what grace is for. Just try again.

Thank you so much! This really helps a lot

God may put thoughts into our minds but only what we allow God to put in. He choses not to control our thoughts but will assist us in removing thoughts that should not be in there. Unless there is free will there would be no actions to be responsible for. God is indeed sovereign over everything. Glad to have you as part of our community Welcome to CC.

Controlling our thinking is an ongoing task.
As others have said, we have a freedom to choose. We chose to accept Christ as savior, we are also encouraged to renew our minds (see Romans 12:2) I also remember that in Ephesians 4:22-24 it speaks of turning our lives around and being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Seems to me that is a choice too...I hope this made sense.

HB,
we are on the same page as you, concerning 'freedom to choose' -

PS. 19:14.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer.

11COR. 10:5.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;

PHI. 4:7-8.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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.

THINK ON THESE THINGS' - this is how we bring our 'thoughts' into the 'OBEDIENCE of CHRIST'...

it ain't easy, but this is our struggle, so, be renewed in your mind and leave the old behind'...

Welcome to the family, sister! There is a lot to figure out, but don't fret. Take it one day at a time, for "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Putting Bible verses in your head is part of the battle. Another part is choosing carefully what else you let in, and who you let speak into your life. You have switched sides in a spiritual battle, so don't be surprised if the enemy throws junk at you... especially from directions that surprise you. Just keep connecting with God through prayer and His word; He'll get you through.

Yes.

Jer 24: 7I will give them a heart to know Me, that Iam the LORD. They will be My people, and I will betheir God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

Isa 30:19People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

Wow I never read this passage before. Thank you. I believe God has control of the devil too and uses him for his purposes, although I am aware that God has no evil in him at all. So that means even the bad thoughts I have about myself (for example I quite often have the thought “I am a failure”) are controlled by God ultimately. Maybe he gives me these bad thoughts to help me improve myself and turn to Jesus more. What do you think?

Judging ourselves is a common thing. IMO, judging ourselves negatively keeps us humble because we often feel unworthy and it's true, we are unworthy. Judging yourself positively has the risk of drifting into the waters of pride which is not a good thing.

look at Paul's example, he was so learned but he used to remind and think of himself as unworthy. But this was not enough though, he found himself drifting into pride sometimes, the reason God gave him 'a thorn in the flesh' to keep him focused.

I'd suggest you keep reading the bible and ask for understanding and do not dwell so much on your performance.

Thank you! I really appreciate this

Wait, what? You don't believe in free will, but we are responsible for our actions? If we don't have free will, how can we be responsible for something we don't have the free will to choose or avoid?

Doggone it, if I don't have free will I'd sure BETTER not be held responsible for my actions! I'd be really ticked!

If you believe that God controls all your thoughts and that you have no free will then how can satan cause you to think these bad thoughts..

Of course i believe in free will .. I believe God gave us free will right from the start so that we could love what is good or love what is evil.. Adam and Eve decided to reject Gods will and embrace the deception of satan.. And in these days we are in the same position.. We can agree with the will of God or we can reject His will and join with those who are in rebellion against Gods will..

Does God intervene and give us messages directly.. Yes the Holy Spirit does work upon us and brings conviction to us.. God also sends us dreams and on rare occasions will send us visions.. But again He does not control our response to the moving of the Holy Spirit or the dreams or the visions..

our Father gives us scripture after scripture instructing us on how He expects
us to think-walk-behave in our 'new lives' - after conversion our hearts are
changed forever when we come to realize the power of His Holy-Sacrificial-Love -
our new journey begins and we only desire to please Him in every way that
we possibly can through our gratitude and thankfulness - we come to realize
by the on-going changes in our new lives, that The Holy Spirit will bless us with
victory after victory as we continue to grow and 'over-come' our old-carnal-ways...

PS. 94:19.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.
PRO. 16:3.
Commit your works unto The LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.
21:5.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Well I believe it is a mystery that we are somehow held responsible yet God ultimately controls our decisions. I believe it is something we can’t comprehend. I follow Pastor John Piper and he has said this same thing

Leah,
there really is no 'mystery' here, the Bible tells us that we will 'reap what we sow'...

we simply cannot serve 'two masters', we cannot partake of the table of devils,
and the table of The Lord'...
it is written, that 'many FALSE TEACHERS' shall deceive many, therefore we, ourselves,
have to study and show ourselves a 'workman approved of God', other wise, we would be taken away
by every 'wind of doctrine'...
we must spend many hours in 'Prayer-Bible Study-Fasting', then, God reveals the Truth to us -
this part, is NOT a FREE gift, but it is the responsibility of every single Christian to discern
between 'good and evil' - babes in Christ only receive milk', but the well-seasoned-warriors
partake of strong Spiritual meat'...

Okay thanks for your input

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-god-sovereign-over-my-free-will

This is very interesting to me and I would recommend checking it out. Pastor John Piper is very credible