Taking every thought captive

  2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”  This phrase is part of a sentence and larger section discussing spiritual warfare.  A large part of fighting the sin in our lives, those strongholds that don’t seem to let go, begins in the mind.  Just because we don’t act on our thoughts doesn’t mean we haven’t sinned.  Letting thoughts that are not obedient to Christ run rampant in our minds is sin.  Yes, just the thoughts.  It seems like our thought life should be private and not censored because no one else can see it.  But our thought life greatly affects our actions, even if we don’t go as far as we are thinking about going.  When we harbor bitter or angry thoughts towards situations or people, our words come out bitter and angry, even to people not involved in the original thoughts.  When we harbor lustful thoughts, even from fiction stories, we begin to be unsatisfied in our marriages and even unkind to our husbands for not living up to the standard of the fiction in our minds.  When we harbor prideful thoughts, we look down on other people and are condescending and unwilling to learn, thinking that our way is the only way something should happen.  When we harbor pitiful thoughts, we are miserable and make everyone around us miserable, as well.  The list goes on and on.  

Romans 12:2 tells us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  How do we renew our minds?  Through Scripture.  Start with Hebrews 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  These verses show us the importance of Scripture in teaching us and renewing our minds so that we can have the mind of Christ.  Read 2 Corinthians.  Paul repeatedly mentions the mind in this letter and the importance of guarding our minds.  Spend time every day (at minimum) in the Word.  These days, we have no excuse, we don’t even have to read.  We have apps on our phones that can read Scripture to us as we drive (I like the YouVersion App).  One of my favorites is Seeds Family Worship, with Scripture set to music.  Whatever we choose, we need to fill our minds with the thoughts of God, because our thoughts are not usually good or helpful.  

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