2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV, For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
What have your thoughts been about recently? Our minds never shut down, and we often keep talking to ourselves about what is going on or how we are being treated. Then our motives influence our emotions. These emotions are one way our hearts express what we crave, treasure, and serve. Our emotions reflect what our idols are – what we worship. They reveal what has captured our hearts. Paul taught that we are to take every thought captive to obey Christ in our battles. Jesus declared in Matthew 12:34b, 37, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. . . The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
How about when you are waiting in line, and the line doesn’t move? Impatience, right? How do you react to computer problems? Perhaps fear, disgust, or outbursts come out due to receiving a poor customer service representative in your plea for the correct solution. Our frustrations and unhappiness show in our thoughts. For example, you arrive on time for an appointment and have to wait 10-15 minutes or longer for the other person to arrive, or sitting in the Doctor’s waiting room can be annoying because we have other things to get done that day as we wait. Or maybe you dwell on, as I have, “I did it again! I can’t do anything right!” Or you fall into judgmental pride, and you wonder, “How did that person ever get a driver’s license? What an idiot!” That is a common reaction here in So. California. We have all been there, caught up in our own tornado of anxiety.
But what if we stopped and ran our thoughts through Scripture’s filter and asked ourselves, “Do my thoughts honor and glorify God? Is there anything I can thank and praise God for here, as every moment of my day He has sovereignly permitted, as Romans 8:28-29 states”. We so often quote, but do we (I) live it?
Paul’s defense (2 Cor. 10) was that he was powered by divine authority. His goal and purpose were spiritual transformation to destroy strongholds of the bad fruits/roots in life, which are: idolatry, anger, quarreling, selfishness, pride, lack of self-control, envy, not trusting God, jealousy, bitterness, and not trusting God’s sovereignty and justice. And to put on instead the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, and is defined by joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, trusting God, and honoring God through our actions, thoughts, and emotions (Gal. 5:22-23).
Remember, God doesn’t waste anything. He uses all things to conform us to be more like Christ, called progressive sanctification. When our thoughts become more Christlike as God transforms us into a new person by changing the way we think (Romans 12:1-2), we are redeemed, and our aim is to please God rather than ourselves in learning God’s will for us.
So, the question to ask is, how am I doing at taking every thought captive to obey Christ in captivating my emotions to make me obedient to Christ? Write down verses such as Ephesians 6:13-17 (the armor of God to put on) in your journal or on 3 x 5 cards, or even in the Notes app on your cell phone. Assault errors in one’s thoughts with God’s truth from His Word. That is where the victory will come and stop those tornadoes brewing and to “always be full of the joy in the Lord (Philippians 4:4a),” by taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
Listen to Matthew West – Come Alive (Lyric Video).