Scripture
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)
Observation
A few years ago, I was consumed with anxious thoughts. Fear controlled me. If my husband went out to run errands, I was sure he’d be in a car accident. If a character in a movie had an illness, I worried that I had it, too. Anxiety, paranoia, fear…my thoughts were out of control.
Thankfully, with God’s faithfulness and the power of His living and active Word, I am learning to do just as Paul prescribed: to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” With the help of His Spirit within me, I can train my brain to only listen to truth.
Application
During a recent bout of anxiety, my husband stopped me in the middle of my long list of worries. “Amy,” he said calmly, “where are you getting this in Scripture?” In other words, he was saying, “The things you’re worrying about aren’t in line with God’s truth. They are lies, directly from the enemy.”
My husband was right. My thoughts weren’t obeying the Christ who died so that I can walk in freedom–including freedom from the enemy’s lies. Training my mind to obey Christ requires daily–sometimes hourly!–diligence. I must be aware of what I’m telling myself, and I must consider whether or not that thought agrees with God’s Word. And when I discover that what I’m thinking is actually a lie from the devil, then I must–with God’s help–change my mind.
Prayer
God, be the Lord of my mind. When my thoughts are far from Yours, stop me. Give me discernment between Satan’s lies and Your truth, and give me the courage to make all of my thoughts obey You. I love You, God, and I want to have the mind of Christ. Amen.
amystorms