2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” ESV
So how has your week gone? Would you categorize it as smooth sailing, or in a time of rowing, or simply drifting in a boat on calm water, or maybe in a boat that is sinking?
When facing any unpleasant situation and a reaction of thoughts is forming within one’s mind, what if we first took our thoughts “captive to obey Christ” before speaking as it instructs in 2 Cor. 10:5? Do we remember Philippians 4:8, which instructs: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”NLT. But wait, there is more! Paul teaches in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything: instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live for Jesus.” NLT.
Can you imagine never having to worry about anything? Examine your thoughts when facing a challenging situation. Are you focusing more on the problem or on following Deuteronomy 6:5, Luke 10:27, and Matthew 22:37, which all command to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Then verse 39 & 40, in Matt. 22, commands, “Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Look at it this way, we all need to focus on what we can do to show others our love for God rather on what we should not do.
We are all guilty of magnifying a sudden problem sometimes. I have done that many times. But if we stopped and prayed and then took time to listen to what God wants to say to us, in taking our tumultuous thoughts captive to obey Christ, and transforming our thoughts to be a living and holy sacrifice, centering around what our Lord would find acceptable and worshipping Him, then the Holy Spirit will transform us in the way we think, renewing us, redirecting us, in the way that pleases our Lord and Saviour (Rom. 12:1-2; 8:5). That is the unfair advantage we as Christians have and we can declare and worship our God in singing Psalm 103:2, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” May our every thought and opinion be transformed to obey Christ.
Listen to Brandan Lake – The Great I AM Can (Lyric Video).