There is something about the way men are wired that makes them very visual in a way that women cannot understand. Thoughts come as pictures, and those pictures pop up randomly during the day. Women, on the other hand, have emotional replays. A woman will stew over a relational encounter, replaying what was said, what it might mean, and how it could have gone differently. In each case, both sexes have unwanted, intrusive thoughts that can skew their thinking and wreak havoc on intimacy. Today’s post explains these intrusive thoughts to help you better understand other better.

"Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts" by Shaunti Feldhahn

Pray
God, help us deal with unwanted, intrusive thoughts the enemy sends to ruin our moods—or our relationship. Help us to be honest with one another about these thoughts, and help us to know how to pray for one another.

Reflect
When unwanted thoughts bombard me, do I entertain or replay them? Or do I strive to let them go?

Respond
Have an honest discussion with your mate about your thoughts and how they affect you. Discover how you can pray for each other.

Hopefully, today’s message has helped you understand that the intrusive thoughts your mate has are not intentional and are not meant to hurt you. It’s just the way men and women are wired. When a woman understands what happens in a man’s mind, she can understand why he is always thinking about sex. And when a man understands that a woman experiences emotional replays, he can understand why she can’t just jump into the bed with him at the end of the day. The next post will take a deeper look into the center of the intimacy issue—sex—to help you understand what your mate needs, and how to rely on God to help you meet those needs.