Taking Thoughts Captive
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8, ESV
I love how our Father loves us and teaches us about himself. We were in New York visiting our son when the Holy Spirit woke me early in the morning. I sat up in the bed seeking His face when He said, “I woke you up early because I missed you.” I was overwhelmed with joy and excited to hear what He wanted to give me.
He said that my thoughts, even those with feelings attached, needed to be taken captive. While He was speaking, I tried to figure out what came first, thoughts or feelings. He told me to look it up in scripture and I found a number of verses that spoke about taking our thoughts captive. Satan prompts us with so many negative thoughts in our heart because our thoughts become our actions. His focus is to steal everything God has given us, to kill us, and to ultimately destroy us (John 10:10, ESV).
The scripture above tells us to focus our thoughts on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent anything worthy of praise. God had reminded me of thoughts that I had held on to that were far from positive. I asked, “How do I get rid of the feeling in my heart?” He told me that when I focus on praise and being grateful, my feelings will change. The feelings are attached to my thoughts. When experiencing my feelings, I had allowed Satan to penetrate my mind. By the time our thoughts have matured into feelings, we’ve meditated on them long enough to open the door for Satan’s foothold.
Think about it - when you think on the goodness of God and begin to praise Him, immediately the presence of God shows up and you are overwhelmed with His goodness and love. When we allow our focus on Satan’s negativity, his presence does the same thing. Those negative thoughts become our reality! So how do we take captive those negative thoughts and feelings? Speak out loud to that demon! We are told that believers have the power to cast out demons (Mark 16:17, ESV). It may not feel like the demon has left but when you speak in Jesus’s name…it has to leave! It does not matter if the feeling is still there - say it again and then begin to praise God and I guarantee you, change has happened!
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… (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV).
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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