Capture Your Thoughts
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.
2 Corinthians 2:10
God gives Christians the power to control their thoughts through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a life-long process controlling our thoughts and we can never be perfect, but we can strive to do our best with God’s divine power helping us.
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) Our heart is revealed by our thoughts, therefore it is essential that we strive to control our thoughts. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) The Lord knows everything about us based on our thoughts because it reveals our spiritual heart.
Capturing thoughts to the obedience of Christ requires knowing the Word, prayer, Christian fellowship, living for Christ, and putting Christ and others first. When we live for Christ our thoughts are dominated by ministering to others, and we are in conversation with Christ, especially when ministering to others. This minimizes the number of times we have to capture a sinful thought because we have filled our thoughts with serving the Lord.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) This verse is important in helping us capture every thought, because if our minds are set on things above then it cannot be set on sinful thoughts. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) This verse also applies to our thoughts, overcome evil thoughts with good thoughts.
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2) This verse reveals one of Satan’s schemes that we don’t even notice. We can easily justify our will and convince ourselves it is agreeable to our Lord. This requires seeing ourselves through the eyes of God and not through our own eyes.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19) Sometimes we may speak strictly from our emotional reaction without going to the Spirit to capture the thought or emotion. If we practice making our emotion a trigger to stop and think, we can capture the emotion and respond with Godly wisdom.
Today take control of your thoughts through the power of the Spirit and don’t let the world or your emotions drive you words and actions. Freedom in Christ includes taking control of our thoughts, and the feeling of controlling our thoughts through the Spirit is greatly satisfying.
Prayer: Lord, help me to control my thoughts and emotions. Guide me in the Spirit to always take control so I can respond with Godly wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen