“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT).
Paul used military language to describe his spiritual warfare against worldly arguments and philosophies that are raised against the knowledge of God. He rightly recognized that the flesh (especially pride), the world, and the devil were allies in the spiritual battle for the minds of humanity. So he fought a spiritual battle to take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Have you recognized the battle for your mind? What’s true? What to believe? It’s difficult to be objective isn’t it? What we need is an external standard for absolute truth. We have it in the Word of God interpreted and applied to us by the Spirit of God. Or more simply, we have it in Christ Jesus. For He is the way, the truth and the life.
Every sin begins with a thought. Wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. Bring your thoughts and motives to the Lord. Get a firm grip on each thought and bring it into the light of Scripture. Ask the Lord to examine it. Does it cause anxiety or doubt? Ask the Lord to replace this thought with right thinking according to the knowledge of God. Replace every lie planted in your heads with a promise from God.
Are you worried about provision? Remember God is our great provider. Are you anxious about death? Remember that Jesus has defeated sin, death and the grave. We can win the war for our minds by taking every thought captive and bringing them into obedience to Christ and His Word.
PRAYER: Dear Father, examine our thoughts today. Is there any thought that is contrary to Your Word? Any motive or identity that goes against the knowledge of You? Bring it to our attention that we might take it captive and replace it with right thinking. Help us win the war for our minds that we might have the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.