every. thought. captive. {13 :: the purposeful pause}

July 15, 2011 By 9 Comments

I often escape to the laundry room. It’s where I bow out of the momentary chaos and cry to him with the dryer humming in the background. Lovely.

To take my thoughts captive when life happens fast means I purposefully pause. Purposefully. Pause. And then commune.



flickr photo credit: dominique archambault


Unless I diligently stop and run into him, I will internally tear down those I love. I will entertain lies and justify my rights. So I have to pause and press into the Real.

I pace the small room and preach his truths out-loud. Because when my ears hear, my heart is spurred towards belief. His spirit faithfully stirs within and verses I’ve committed to memory spill out like water calming hot coals. You work all things together for the good of those who love you, Father. All things. Even this.

Then from a distance I faintly hear “mama, where are you?” I’m pausing, I silently answer, purposefully. For I need to hear my Lord and see with his vision.

Then with the smell of fabric softener lingering and piles of ready clothes watching, I open the door by faith. Trusting him to fill me. Believing him to empower me. Repeating his word beneath my breath. Knowing him to be grace.

Every. thought. captive. He alone makes it possible.



He reveals those inner thoughts that pass through with silent charm —
the ones that leave us bound and confused.
Then he empowers us to take them captive to truth.



Fill me, Lord…

What does it look like when you purposefully pause? Where do you go?
If this is a new concept, how do you think it could benefit your thought-life if you were to implement it?


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Filed Under: daily filling, the thought life
  • http://inquietmemory.blogspot.com Marleah

    This is a great concept, and one I desperately need to start doing. More often then not, my version ends up being a mad dash for the bathroom where I can lock myself in to escape before I completely blow my top. Perhaps if I started pausing more purposefully, I could prevent those mad dashes from happening… :)

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      I’ve done that too, friend. And yes, if I am staying in communion with Him in my thought life, then I’m much more sensitive to when I need to purposefully step away — before my blood pressure rises too high. This life is so moment by moment. Have a great weekend.

  • http://www.matternfamily.com Rambling Heather

    Your posts are like sitting with a devotional in my hands. I am reminded to take all my thoughts captive, which tends to be a big struggle of mine. Thank you friend!

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      What sweet encouragement, Heather. Thank you. I pray blessings over you friend. Freedom blessings and joy blessings.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you Lara, this is a great thing to do. I don’t have a laundry room and my husband works in our bedroom so I don’t have any quiet places really! But I do often talk to myself when my thoughts get out of hand, and I tell myself to stop. Then I remind myself of what I should be thinking, how I shouldn’t be worrying but trusting God, and how I shouldn’t be criticising people but thinking of their good points.

    • http://www.larawilliams.org Lara Gibson Williams

      I think it was John Wesley’s mom (*I think*) who used to pull her apron up over her head to escape the moment and cry out to God for wisdom. I guess anywhere will do. Too bad we don’t really wear aprons anymore.

  • http://mendinghope.com Hope Wilbanks

    Isn’t it funny, how we each have our “special” places to pause? Mine is often my bedroom. I shut the door, and it’s a signal to my kids. They know. Momma’s in her room. Door is shut. She’s praying. Sometimes I go outside and *pause* through a walk. It’s during those moments I feel really close to Him. How could I *not*, when, as I walk, I survey the beauty of His majestic hands? I’m so thankful God is omnipresent, and that we can pause anywhere, anytime, and He’s always there. :)

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