TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
We know our mind is the key to our actions. What we do starts first as an idea, a thought. That’s good, but it can also cause problems. Have you ever had thoughts you don’t want? Did something strange, or sinful, or just distracting pop into your head from nowhere? Sometimes it is a thought to hurt someone, or a lustful or wicked thought. It could be an idea of revenge or cruelty to another person or even an animal. Often it is a destructive thought, something done to yourself. Sometimes they are just periodic, but other people struggle with these daily, sometimes multiple times a day. They aren’t easy to talk about or tell others what is happening because we fear they won’t understand. We often think there is something wrong with us for having them. But there isn’t. They can be quite common.
Unwanted thoughts can be caused by such things as postpartum hormonal readjustment, external stress or from divorce or violence. Past trauma that hasn’t healed can also be behind them. Allowing sin in our lives can be a root cause. Pride especially can trigger negative thoughts against others. Often they are demonic in origin, thoughts and ideas shot into our minds to torment and defeat us, to take away our joy and peace. So, what’s the solution?
Paul told the Corinthian Christians that when this happened they were to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5). But just how do we do that? The solution begins with filling our minds with God’s truth. If we do not fill our mind with truth the enemy will fill it with lies. We need to spend quality time in prayer and fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word. Memorize Scripture. Praise and worship. Don’t see unwanted thoughts as proof you are evil or mentally ill. See them as what they are: an attack by the enemy.
Demons can put thoughts into a person’s mind or snatching thoughts out of a person’s mind. While they don’t have access to our minds and thoughts to the same extent that God does, the Bible makes it clear there is some access. Jesus said this in the sower and the seed: “Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown.” (Mark 4:15). David’s thought to take a census was demonic (1 Chronicles 21:1ff; 2 Samuel 24:1ff). So was Ananias & Saphira’s greed (Acts 5:3) and Saul’s jealousy/anger (1 Samuel 16:14-23). That’s why, when talking about spiritual warfare, Paul says we are to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Not only can Satan’s forces put wrong thoughts into our minds, they can snatch right thoughts out of our minds (Mark 4:15) so we forget them. When they appear unwanted, from out of nowhere, don’t accept negative or sinful thoughts as reality. See them as intrusive thoughts you don’t want. Rebuke them and fill your mind with truth. Quote Scripture or sing a favorite praise song. Handle them with your rational mind, not your feelings or emotions.
Feelings and emotions are fine, important and necessary. They are icing on the cake of life. They add color and enjoyment to life. God created them for this purpose. But He didn’t create them to be the source of our decision-making. Our feelings should be dependent on our rational thought. When our feelings get ahead of it or away from it then trouble comes. You know in your mind that you are an OK person, yet your emotions fear you will be rejected. When feelings aren’t founded on the truth, they are wrong. The truth is that you are loved and accepted by God, but your emotions reject that truth and try to do the ‘thinking’ themselves. I often tell people they need to let their mind explain reality to their emotions. When we assume our emotions are correct instead of our mind we err.
If you struggle with unwanted thoughts, images or ideas, forming strong spiritual habits of prayer, forgiveness, confession and gratitude are important. Don’t be ashamed to go to God with them. He knows and He answers. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 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.
Are you prone to unwanted thoughts entering your mind? What have you found helpful to have victory over them?
What have you learned from this article that can help you defeat them?
If you are not having victory, find a godly counselor or mature Christian and ask them to pray for you. Keeping this hidden gives it fertile ground to grow. If you don’t know anyone to talk to, you can write to me.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India & Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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