Spiritual Warfare

What is the best weapon against bad thoughts?

The number one weapon of all spiritual warfare is the Jesus prayer: the mind is like a car in drive that always creeps forward, so it must be given something to do — a prayer rope and 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' When the mind is too tired, he prescribes spiritual books, audiobooks, and hymns, with the diagnostic question 'am I using my mind, or is my mind using me?' Beyond that he recommends silence for those who can bear it, physically demanding activity like hiking or lifting that forces attention into the present, and calling someone else who is struggling — you cannot listen to their problems and your own at the same time.