Captivate Your
Thoughts
2 Cor. 10:5
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;
Our own computations or logic about how things should be as well as any high thing or barrier that
has raised itself against the knowledge of God should be demolished-brought down. Our own thoughts
can be a barrier to the knowledge of God. In order to keep them from being such a barrier we should
bring every thought into captivity so that each thought is in accordance with Christ's. To
change our thoughts isn't a complicated thing, but it is something that takes training. We
bring a thought into captivity and before we know it it's escaped and we're chasing it down
again. We captivate it again and it escapes again. Each time we capture it, if we don't give up
chasing and catching, we keep it longer until that thought stays where it's supposed to
be-obedient to Christ. It does take diligence, but it is not a difficult thing to do. This process
is called renewing your mind. And it is something God wants us to do.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
We can do this because of that holy spirit gift that we got when we got born again. Anybody,
believer or unbeliever can change what they are thinking at any given time (unless they're
possessed by devil spirits). The difference between unbelievers and born again believers is that
when we train ourselves to think the thoughts of Christ, we are thinking spiritual truths. Combine
this with speaking in tongues much in our private prayer lives and you have a walk of power that
exceeds anything any natural man can do. Donald Trump doesn't have any power compared to the
power that you and I have if we build up our spirit, renew our minds and keep a knowledge of God in
our hearts.
Ephes. 4:22-28
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23.And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24.And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25.Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26.Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27.Neither give place to the devil. 28.Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Renewing our minds to the knowledge of God will help us to change our behaviors. We can put off the old and put on the new, train ourselves to think in accordance to the Word by bringing our thoughts into captivity, not letting them run lose to build barriers against the knowledge of God. And by doing that, we will be able to speak the truth instead of lying, quit being angry, give no place to the devil, not steal. When we control our minds, we can control our whole selves. Desire follows decision.
Notice that God tells us to put off the old man, to stop lying, stop being angry, don't steal, etc. He doesn't tell us to figure out how or why we ever could have behaved that way and that we should analyze what went wrong in our psyche in order for us to never behave that way again& he just says stop doing it and do the right thing instead. Renew your mind, bring your thoughts into captivity, stop the bad behavior and move on with the right thoughts and the right behavior. God has a process
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Forgive is the greek word aphiemi which means to send away. We admit that we didn't do something right to God and then He is faithful and just to get rid of that sin for us just as if it never happened and then to cleanse us from all of the unrighteousness of it. He does this so that we can move on. We don't have to worry about why we sinned or how we can keep from sinning again, we focus instead on renewing our minds to the Word, bringing our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is how we will be able to improve our behavior.
What are some behaviors or thought patterns in the Word to which I strive to captivate MY thoughts?
Philip. 4:6
Be careful for nothing;but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Okay, two things here to which I can train my mind. Don't be anxious (because I trust God to supply) and be thankful.
When I train myself to trust God by matching my thoughts to God's words, there is nothing to be anxious about, nothing to fear.
When I'm busy being thankful, I don't have time to think about what might go wrong or what I might not get. Positive things will
result.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
When I match my thoughts to God's word, then I won't condemn myself. I'm not such a bad gal after all.
Ephes. 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
If I am bringing my thoughts into captivity then I will change my mind and think loving thoughts and walking in love will result. Whereas Love is something that you do, it is still born with a loving thought.
All of these things are choices. We may have to train ourselves to them - do them over and over again until we get it right, but the thoughts that I keep in my head are there by my own choice. Why not choose God's thoughts?