Susan's Homeschool Blog

How do you take every thought captive?

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV

Scripture says that we have thought sins. We can’t let our thoughts rule unchecked and just think whatever thoughts we feel like thinking. No. Our minds have a doorway, and we are not to let in anything that will cause us to sin.

We are also not to think worthless thoughts that waste our lives. We are to purposely think thoughts that God wants us to think. A good list of what to dwell on is found in Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

How to Take Every Thought Captive (Video #6)

How can we functionally take our thoughts captive, especially when we are being wounded by someone and are finding ourselves in a position where we need to forgive an unrepentant person? Listen to the video to see how to accomplish this difficult task:

Here is a free audio about this topic: Controlling Your Mind. If you would like to follow my prayer posts, like my Prayer page on Facebook, YouTube, and Google+.

The only way to conquer sin in your life is to learn to control your mind. All sin begins in the mind. Understand that your mind has a doorway, and that you can close the door on any thought. You don’t have to think whatever thoughts come into your head. None of us should be ruled by our emotions or by random thoughts, but we are to be ruled by the Spirit.

Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (ESV) If you don’t assert your will over your thoughts, you are not actually working with God. Both you and God need to be working together to overcome sin. If you expect God to do everything when you aren’t even trying, you will be waiting in vain. You must seek God with all your heart and soul, forcing your will to do what’s right, and cry out to God. Then God does the miraculous work of transforming you in an impossible way.

Like I said, all sin starts in the mind, so if you can learn to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5), you will have victory over sin. I bear witness that this has been true in my own life many times, and many mature believers confirm that the same has happened to them. They overcome sin in miraculous ways when they take their thoughts captive.

In the audio, I describe several instances from my life where I took thoughts captive to overcome sin. Here are some supporting articles that describe two of these situations in more detail:

• Overcoming Depression
• Guarding my Tongue

The boomerang verse I referred to in the audio: “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3 NIV (I think there was a different verse that talked about gossip coming back on your own head, but I can’t find it! If you find it, please write it in the comments. It might not have been in Proverbs…)

Here is the next prayer audio in the Becoming a Prayer Warrior audio series:

• Controlling Your Mind