Burning the Lies: My Morning Practice That Brings Me Peace

Let me be real for a moment.

Mornings used to feel like a battleground. Before I could even get to my Bible or my devotion time, my mind would be flooded with thoughts that didn’t feel like mine—angry, bitter, shame-filled, sometimes downright hateful. And I’d think, What is wrong with me? Why am I starting the day like this? Do others wake up with such horrible thoughts? Am I going crazy or losing it?

But then I read a blog from someone who shared something powerful—they wrote down all their worst, darkest thoughts. The ones you never say out loud. The ones you’re ashamed to even have. And they burned them. Just like that. Burned them to ashes. I would absolutely give credit to the person who wrote that blog but for the life of me I cannot find it again. So, I want to say, “Thank you!” to whomever you are!!

That idea hit me like a bolt of clarity. Yes. Because let’s face it: the enemy doesn’t wait until we’re “ready” to fight. He shows up the moment our eyes open and some days he hits hard.

So one morning, I decided to do something similar. I joked with a friend and said, “It’s like I have to deal with the devil first.” And now, that’s exactly what I call it.

I deal with the devil.

When those ugly thoughts come, I don’t deny them anymore. I grab my cheap little dollar-store journal, and I write them out. Every nasty, unkind, dark thing that pops up—especially the stuff I know the enemy is using to try to steal my peace, joy, and purpose. Sometimes I cry at what I am writing because I cannot believe those kinds of thoughts come out of my head!

How amazingly satisfying it is to rip those pages from that journal and then….

I burn those pages. (I usually wait an entire week before this step but sometimes I burn the page immediately. The thoughts can be really bad, and I am so ashamed. I am not hiding this from you. I want you to know, if you are having untamed thoughts, you are not the only one.)

I don’t keep these pages. I don’t reread them. I don’t let them have power over me. I burn them. Gone.

It’s not devil worship. It’s devil eviction.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
— Writing and burning those dark thoughts is a way of renewing your mind daily (or weekly) so God can fill you with truth.

Because once that junk is out of my mind and on the page—then up in smoke—I can breathe. I can think clearly. I can sit with the Lord, really sit with Him. I can read my Bible and not feel blocked. I can worship and feel light again.

This practice has been life-changing.

It’s not a ritual. It’s a release. A cleansing. A way to say, Nope, devil, not today. You don’t get to stay in my head rent-free.

And maybe you need this too. Maybe your mornings feel like mine used to—heavy and clouded. I encourage you to try it. You don’t need anything fancy. Grab a notebook from the dollar store. Give yourself permission to be honest. Brutally honest. Don’t hold back. Then burn it daily, weekly, monthly—whatever works.

Let the smoke rise and take the lies with it.

Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
— This prayer reflects the heart of your practice: making room for God to cleanse and restore your spirit.

Because once they’re gone, you’ll feel free. And that’s when the Lord really starts to speak.

*Please feel free to share if you tried this and it has worked for you. My goal is to always help others. I want to share what I have experienced. These experiences help me to live the life I dream of.