Take Every Thought Captive

I have spoken to many people who struggle with the same thing I struggle with, taking every thought captive. That’s right, as a preacher I still have to take control of the thoughts that run through my mind.

However, I realized something this week in this scripture.

2 Corinthians 10: 1-6

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

When Paul wrote this, he did not say, “Don’t have bad thoughts.” Paul says here, you will have bad thoughts, just like I do. Yes Paul here is telling us, bad thoughts are going to come, it is part of the human mind. However, when thoughts come, we are to take them captive, take control of them. If they are bad then refuse to dwell on those bad thoughts. If those thoughts are negative, refuse to dwell on them. If those thoughts go against scriptures teaching then state the truth and walk on.

We can do things to guide our thoughts, such as reading the Bible and other good books. By watching things that are uplifting and staying away from questionable material. The old saying is true, “garbage in, garbage out.” However, take courage in the fact that Paul nor Jesus ever said we were bad for having bad thoughts, but we have been equipped with the way of escape. Our thoughts do not have to control us.

This is Good News!

Ronnie