Take Every Thought Captive

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Devotion:

            There is war raging in your mind. Not a physical war with guns and artillery, but a mental war. One that will determine which thoughts you allow to control your mind. Paul here describes not a war that we fight with our fleshly weapons. If fleshly weapons were all we have to fight with the battle would be lost before it began. Our weapons are of a spiritual kind that are effective in battle for the mind.

            We may say that there is no battle raging in my mind. That, however, is a lie that the enemy is all too ready to believe. If the enemy of our souls can convince us that we are not at war with him, his job is that much easier. Far too often, we Christians give in to this temptation believing that their mind could never be at was with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We give into the temptation to hold a grudge against someone. We let anger control us. We satisfy the desires of the flesh and view pornography or other illicit materials.

            We justify our actions by saying things like everyone gets angry there is surely no harm in that. We justify viewing illicit materials by saying that everyone does it why should I deprive myself of the pleasure. God’s word is plain on these points, however. Almost all types of anger are sinful. Looking at pornography to satisfy one's lust is unequivocally denounced. We as Christians must stand in opposition to these evils both in our own lives and in the culture at large.

            Well, we may ask if these things are wrong, how can we resist the temptation to do these activities? The first step is obvious we must recognize the attack on our mind the moment it begins. The sooner we can recognize we are at war with sinful thoughts the more likely we are to succeed in defeating them. Next, we must begin with prayer to overcome the negative thoughts that we have entertained in our minds. Paul states elsewhere that we must replace these evil thoughts with righteous thoughts. In Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV) Paul gives this helpful list of things to meditate on instead of sinful fleshly thoughts:

             ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice And the God of peace will be with you.

            Thinking about these things consistently will purify our minds so that we will no longer be drawn to the desires of the flesh, the world, or the devil, which are out to defeat and discourage us. We can live victorious life we were made to live in Jesus Christ.