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13th March 2025
ThursdayReflection
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'Steve Lenk'
Writes for a Christian church with origins in
Norway
How do I take every thought captive?
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What do I do with thoughts that are not pleasing to God?
The Bible tells us to take every thought captive.
(2 Corinthians 10 v 5)
That means that I have a chance to do something about all thoughts that are not well-pleasing to God, before they enter my heart and become a part of me!
What we think about is crucial to who we are.
Scientists don't agree on how many thoughts we have each day, but all agree there are thousands of them.
Who we are is shaped moment by moment by the thoughts we choose to let into our mind and heart.
But how can we control the thousands of thoughts that enter our mind each day?
What do we do with the thoughts that are not pleasing to God?
How can we, in reality, take every thought captive?
Often, our thoughts have to be focused on the regular tasks we must accomplish that day.
However, as we go through the day, we can catch thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God's will and keep them from gaining control of our mind and heart.
Paul explains how this is possible:
The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
.....2 Corinthians 10 v 4-5
It is written that we need to battle to keep our thoughts pure, but it is also written that we have weapons to fight with!
Let's consider a typical daily situation where I would have the opportunity to take my thoughts captive:
Perhaps my supervisor at work gives me a task I hate, and negative, complaining thoughts come into my head.
These thoughts are temptations - and I have a chance to do something about them before they enter my heart and become a part of me.
It is these types of thoughts we need to take captive by instead choosing to obey words of God such as Philippians 2:14
"Do all things without grumbling or complaining."
Such a choice requires a real battle in our thought life, but the weapons of our warfare - the Word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit - are mighty to help us.
By praying to God in the moment when we sense we are being tempted, we can receive power to keep our thoughts pure.
Then I have taken the thought captive!
We must also strengthen ourselves for this warfare beforehand by following Jesus' example when He was tempted by the devil to turn the stones into bread:
"But It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
.....Matthew 4:4
Jesus had armed Himself by reading and meditating on the Word of God that could help Him in the trials of His life.
If we notice there are areas of our thought life that we find difficult to overcome, we can find specific Scriptures that can help us to get victory over them, and believe in a God who is mighty to save!
For example, if we know we are easily tempted to impure thoughts about the opposite sex, we can take Jesus' words to heart:
But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.
.....Matthew 5:28-29.
If we are prone to anger, we can arm ourselves with James' exhortation:
Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose.
.....James 1:19-20
By the Holy Spirit we can get grace and power to bring the thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and in this process, we become transformed into the person He wants us to be.
We have the wonderful hope that by overcoming sin in our thought life, we can become a little more like Christ as each day progresses.
In this way, we become valuable tools in God's hands.
Allowing this inner work of God to take place in us is the greatest task we can take on in life.
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This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Author Steve Lenk
ActiveChristianity.org
by Brunstad Christian Church explores how God's Word challenges and empowers us to live 100% according to His will, so we no longer need to fall in sin, but can come to a life of victory.
Brunstad Christian Church (BCC) is a Christian church with origins in Norway and with an international presence.
The federation consists of the central organization, joint initiatives, and member organizations.
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