A few days ago I shared how scheduling my time helps me be “all there.” But often I find that even with a schedule I still have a war waging in my mind.
The thoughts pull at me, nagging with a long list of “things I could be doing.” And if I’m not diligent to take those thoughts captive, then I miss the moment. I miss the person in front of me. I miss the opportunity to love.
Everything begins with a thought. If love doesn’t somehow define our ponderings, then love won’t spill out of our mouths. If blessing doesn’t fill our minds, then blessing won’t fall from our lips.
Paul teaches that as believers we have the weapons mighty in God for bringing every thought captive to obedience. (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6) Every angry thought. Every bitter thought. Every envious thought. Every lustful thought. Every. Thought.
It’s not that the thoughts won’t come — while in these fleshly bodies the thoughts will come — but in Christ we have choice as to what captivates our minds. He died to set us free.
We don’t have to live chained to our every whim. We don’t have to chase after thoughts of dissention or bow to the worry and fear. We have the weapons mighty in God to bring those thoughts into the obedience of Christ.
The weapons…
His Spirit.
Mighty in God.
Let’s engage the battle.
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This is the first post in a short series on the thought life — more specifically how to have victory in our thought lives. This is freedom talk, friends. Freedom.
Fill me, Lord…
How have you seen the battle of the mind waging in your own life?
If you haven’t yet subscribed to my blog, and don’t want to miss this thought life series, click here to subscribe in a reader or here to subscribe by email. Blessings to you, friend.
Yes, Lara, I love this post. Because for a long time, I would read it – to take every thought captive and go about doing the same thing. God is the one who can set free. There is no work we can do to make it happen. And recently because of the work He is doing in me, I surrendered to His work and have begun to be able to take the thoughts captive. That doesn’t look like perfection or even getting it right every time, but it looks like the art of becoming perfected by Him. I hope that makes sense to someone. I know this will be a great series. Look forward to it.
The battle of the mind in my own life – guilt versus conviction. Being good enough versus being accepted. Doing the work versus surrendering to His doing of the work. Learning to love and be loved as Jesus does.
So many good points, Jamie. “Surrender. The art of becoming perfected by Him. Guilt vs. conviction.” It sounds like He is doing a mighty work in you, friend. Thank you for sharing.
I struggle with this myself. It’s hard to stay constantly engaged in the battle so that I stay constantly and completely focused on Him and His Word. It’s a battle I can’t win on my own. I am completely dependent on Him and His strength—Him living in and through me—to win this one. Thanks for the thought-provoking post and the reminder to “engage the battle.”
It is so constant, isn’t it? This battle of the mind. I’m right there with you, continually learning what it means to live under the freedom Christ died to give us.
Lara….I love this post…and the picture with the LOVE GOD first on the LEFT…leads to what’s on the right LOVE PEOPLE!!! Thank you!
This fits so well with the book I’m reading for my blog right now – being IN the present moment and inviting God to be there too. Taking each thought captive as it enters our minds and making the most of every moment-by-moment opportunity that God presents.
Sounds like a great book!
So needed to read this today, as I’m just battling the flesh over and over again… UGH! Love the new blog… hope you are well!!
Hey Mitzi! So good “seeing” you on here. And I KNOW what you mean. Sometimes it feels like the same battle over and over and over. Running this faith race beside you, friend.
thanks for doing this series – something i totally need to be reminded of! it’s so important for us as wives and mommies to set the tone in our homes. and taking our thoughts captive is the first crucial step. so, thank you for listening to the Lord and encouraging all your sisters out there!! blessings, lora
How timely this is! I struggle with this daily, but today especially I found myself captured by negative, no-good thinking, and blessing was definitely *not* falling from my lips. It’s my 20th wedding anniversary today! That’s significant, right?! And I am blessed, and shouldn’t get so caught up in all the less-than-ideal circumstances & ‘daily-ness’ in our life right now that I let it ruin the celebration altogether. Yes, Fill me Lord! It’s all good!
I love how you get to the heart of such important matters, and so quickly. This is so meaningful: “It’s not that the thoughts won’t come — while in these fleshly bodies the thoughts will come — but in Christ we have choice as to what captivates our minds.”
It is such an intentional action, to captivate our thoughts! I’m looking forward to the series, Lara. 🙂