Have you ever seen those cartoons where a character is presented with a temptation, and then a little red-horned devil appears on his shoulder in an attempt to lead him astray, but then a white-robed angel pops up on the opposite shoulder to lead him down the path of righteousness? Yeah, me too. And unfortunately, I can relate all too well to the scenario.
I’ve learned that there comes a time in life when those voices in your head (or on your shoulder) start to compete with each other. Suddenly, things that were once clear become murky. I cannot tell you how many times that little red devil whispered in my ear: You’re a bad mom, a bad wife—you’re just bad in general. Clarity was lost and suddenly my mind was filled with so much static that I couldn’t discern the truth. Finally, when I had enough, I decided to flick that little red devil off my shoulder for good!
What Does it Mean to Take Your Thoughts Captive?
Essentially, Taking every thought captive means gaining control over our thought life and aligning it with God’s truth and righteousness.
Imagine your mind as a garden. Weeds—unhealthy thoughts—can quickly take over if left unchecked. By taking our thoughts captive, we’re essentially weeding out those negative, untrue thoughts and nurturing the ones that reflect God’s truth. This means recognizing and rejecting thoughts that don’t align with what God says about us and focusing instead on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. It’s a daily practice, but one that brings us closer to living a life that honors God.
The Power of God’s Word
God’s Word is our most powerful weapon in the battle for our minds. Scripture is not just a collection of ancient texts; it’s a living, active tool that can demolish arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God. When we arm ourselves with the Word of God, we gain the strength to overcome sinful thoughts and become more like Christ Jesus.
Think of God’s Word as a sword that cuts through the lies and deceit that try to infiltrate our thought life. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we can take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. The Bible provides clear guidance on how to do this, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can transform our minds and align our thoughts with God’s truth.
4 Steps to Start Taking Your Thoughts Captive
Step #1: Think about what you think about.
Our thoughts are the catalysts that set our courses. This is where positivity or negativity and good or poor choices come from. The easiest thing to do is to let the mind run rampant, but we have to recognize that not every thought is true.
Step #2: Once you’ve thought about your thought, capture it!
2 Corinthians 10:5 says we have the power to capture our thoughts and make them obey Jesus.
Step #3: Test your thought.
The test? Philippians 4:8! Is it true, pure, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy? If not, what is the truth?
Step #4: Decide what to do with the thought.
Is it true? Keep it! Is it a lie? Throw it out!
Our thoughts are powerful. They’re the motivation behind every action. Make it a priority today to evaluate your thoughts. Say goodbye to that little red devil. I promise, it will be a game changer! You can take captive every thought.
Keep Taking Your Thoughts Captive
Living a life where every thought is captive requires dedication. By understanding the concept of taking thoughts captive, recognizing the spiritual battle for our minds, using the power of God’s Word, and remembering our identity in Christ, we can bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ.
This journey isn’t easy, but it’s possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.
By taking our thoughts captive, we can experience freedom from unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, and cultivate a thought life that honors God. Remember, you’re not alone in this battle. God is always with you, guiding and empowering you to live a life that is pleasing to Him. So, let’s strive to take every thought captive and live in the freedom and truth that God offers.
Keep Taking Your Thoughts Captive
Living a life where every thought is captive requires dedication. By understanding the concept of taking thoughts captive, recognizing the spiritual battle for our minds, using the power of God’s Word, and remembering our identity in Christ, we can bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ.
This journey isn’t easy, but it’s possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.
By taking our thoughts captive, we can experience freedom from unhealthy thoughts and behaviors and cultivate a thought life that honors God. Remember, you’re not alone in this battle. God is always with you, guiding and empowering you to live a life that is pleasing to Him. So, let’s strive to take every thought captive and live in the freedom and truth that God offers.