Take Every Thought Captive

My open page fell on Philippians again this morning. In chapter 4, verse 9, Paul speaks of learning and receiving and hearing things. Those things I shared yesterday, specifically in verse 8: whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence, worthy of praise; those things caused me to think on another verse. So I flipped some pages.

2 Corinthians 10 shares about our thoughts in verse 5. Our thoughts can get us in trouble. Can you relate? In the verses just before, there is the reminder that ‘we do not war according to the flesh.’ God wants our mind and heart. So does Satan.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

A friend of mine makes it known when she teaches that she has had to learn the lesson before bringing it to others. I know what she means! Sometimes those lessons are hard and unpleasant. But on the other side of the lesson, as long as we use the weapons of warfare there is that peace that passes all understanding.

Taking every thought captive. When my mind wanders and becomes bogged down in some junk, the best thing I can do is ask some questions. I have to destroy speculations. I have to apply the knowledge of God against the junk that wants to clutter my mind and heart.

Is it true?

Is it honorable?

Is it right?

Is it pure?

Is it lovely?

Is it of good repute?

Is it excellent?

Is it worthy of praise?

God gave us His Son for our salvation. He gave us His Holy Spirit for living life this side of eternity. Constantly with us. Always ready to apply truth. Always on guard against the enemy of your soul. Are you alert to and aware of His Presence? Can you take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

I don’t know about you but I am a work in process. I pray that you and I can grow in our knowledge of God so that each moment of junk that causes us issues can be exterminated. So we can walk in the truth of God’s love.

Is there a practical way you find that helps you walk in truth? What is it that keeps you in His perfect peace? Will you share so that others can join you in that endeavor?