J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

7. FascinationMOST people have experienced, at one time or another,the frustration of simply not being able to escape athought. If it is merely a song that keeps going throughour mind, or a positive or neutral image, the problem isjust that: frustration. But when it is an evil idea, ourinability to throw it off, no matter what we do, maydrive us into great inner need. For some people, it is aquestion of envy or jealousy; others are tormented bymistrust and spiteful thoughts; still others seem tostruggle unendingly with lustful images and ideas.We have seen that anxiety over any thought plaguingus – and misplaced hopes of overcoming such a thoughtby focusing on other “counter-thoughts” – can lead usin only one direction: in a downward spiral of emotionalconfusion. In fact, I have seen that those who tryhardest to “will” themselves into a Christlike frame ofmind are sometimes plagued by the worst ideas:thoughts of blasphemy and murder.