3 Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive

My little son deep in thought ;)

2 Corinthians 10: 5b says, "take every thought captive to obey Christ."  I listened to a sermon by Matt Chandler today on this verse and it really got me thinking about the thoughts I allow to enter my mind.  In the sermon I listened to, Matt was talking to college students.  He gave an illustration of how none of them would want their thoughts displayed before the whole assembly because they would be shamed by the thoughts they have.  As I thought about this illustration, I realized that he was completely right.  This was both an incredibly humbling and freeing realization.  


It was humbling because I know there are tons of thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis that I would be ashamed about sharing publicly.  It is incredible how little sin thoughts can pepper our day.  Even as we seek to walk in Christ daily, we each still end up with judgments about people, lusts, material dreams, and sinful desires.  Acknowledging that this is true, is so important in beginning to take each one of these thoughts captive.  We are able to take these thoughts captive by instantly surrendering them to Jesus.  As we continue to do this, He works to sanctify our heart and brain freeing us more and more daily from these thoughts.  


It is freeing because it helps us know that we aren't the only one with sinful thoughts.  These sinful thoughts in your head do not mean your unsaved though it is always good to make sure you have a right relationship with Christ.  All Christians suffer from sinful thoughts to some degree.  We have all thought things that would horrify others around us and even horrify ourselves at times.  Each one of these thoughts are remnants of our sinful flesh.  When we became saved in Jesus, we are instantly justified before God and presented as pure but we will spend the rest of our life being sanctified through Christ, which means we are becoming more and more like Christ daily yet are not a perfect image of Christ yet.  This is why Paul had to talk about taking our thoughts captive because we will each still battle with sin, in some form, on a daily basis.  Through this struggle, we grow in Christ and learn better how to surrender and take captive everything with His help daily.


I have found three things that help me best take captive my sinful thoughts daily.  First, I memorize scripture.  Scripture helps us to identify and battle the sinful thoughts in our head.  Also, scripture keeps our head full of what is right and true and gives our brain less room for the sinful thoughts.  Second, I try to communicate with the Lord constantly.  I don't mean that I am on my knees and praying while forsaking all other tasks, though there is a time and place for this type of prayer, but what I do mean is that I am constantly relying on the Lord for my strength and direction each day.  When I am surrendered to Jesus and seeking His will for each day, I find that my heart will be focused on what is right and true.  Lastly, I confess the sins of my heart to my brothers in Christ and my wife.  By confessing the thoughts and sins I am wrestling with, I am able to kill two birds with one stone.  First, by confessing, I free my heart from the shame the devil tries to ensnare me in through my shameful thoughts.  Second, I receive encouragement and prayer from those I confess to, which helps to strengthen me against allowing the thoughts enter my head again.  


If you struggle with sinful thoughts and words racing through your head and heart, I hope these three lessons learned in my own life will help you walk more in the freedom of Christ daily.  I highly encourage you to get a friend or family member you can discuss your struggles with to help you in your battle against sinful thoughts.  I pray that your relationship with Jesus would be strengthened and that your heart and brain would be more surrendered to Christ daily.


Blessings,


Greg