Take every thought captive…
Do you ever think about what you are thinking about? Up to a few weeks back I certainly didn’t. We think about what we allow our minds to think about and don’t necessarily let these thoughts through an appropriate filter system. This means that in essence we are ‘passive thinkers’ (allowing any thought to come in and forming a stronghold). For years, the world has been preaching about ‘positive thoughts’. You have to literally make yourself think positive in order to stay that way through the day. In order to ‘get through another day’ we have to consciously stay positive – no matter what…? Now I’m not saying the world is wrong, but I’d like to offer a different perspective.
The mind, in all its mystery, is an incredibly powerful tool…if it’s used in the right way. Depression and anxiety originate in the mind and certain physical ailments have been shown to be a direct result of negative though patterns. The same can be said for positive thought patterns – pictures of health. So in order for us to have a positive outlook on life, which will directly influence us spiritually and physically, we need to become ‘Active Thinkers’ (filtering every thought to check its origin, value and impact on our lives).
The mind is the most important place of personal victory for us. Our minds are programmed from family, books, experiences, knowledge etc. What we think influences all our relationships, and if we believe lies, we have been deceived. The mind is a receiver and you must select what you sea and hear.
A quick (and simple) example: John Tucker is a teenager in school. During a mathematics class one Tuesday morning John raises his hand to ask a question. The teacher allows John to ask the question, which is a basic question of understanding and clarification of a difficult new mathematical concept. The teacher laughs at John in front of the class and loudly exclaims: “Have you been sleeping Mr. Tucker? I just explained this! If you keep this up you’ll flunk your math test end of the year and I will be stuck with you next year again.” The passive thinker that John is will allow these thoughts to ‘spin’ around in his head, eventually believing them and believing that he cannot do maths. Come year end, he flunks math. John has believed a lie.
The active thinker would take these thought and evaluate them – ‘are these comments impacting my life in a positive or negative way?’ ‘Is there any truth to these words?’ the active thinker would not allow these thoughts to control the way that he sees himself or how he approaches the problem.
The problem however goes much deeper. Once again, let me explain: A day or two before reading a topic specifically around the issue of being in control of our thoughts, I had the thought of suicide being thrown into my head. Suicide?? I mean, I’m not depressed. Before I realised it I was sitting and thinking about how I would go about it, whom I would write a letter to and how it would impact my loved ones. Writing this down now sounds ludicrous, but it is what happened. Now don’t worry – I’m not suicidal. And that is the point I’m trying to make.
I allowed for a brief second the thought of suicide to ‘ride the waves’ into my mind. I allowed it! I didn’t block it. And these things happen so often don’t they?
What have you allowed into your head today? How about the last week? How about in the month? Now think about all of the rubbish that you have allowed into your mind in your lifetime. Ever wondered why you think about those ‘weird things’ sometimes?
Start today by placing the filter of Jesus Christ into your mind. Evaluate your thoughts constantly and ensure they are from God. Remember, the enemy comes to deceive (lie) and as soon as we believe his lies we loose focus from God. The enemy wants you to sit and ponder that ‘lucrative’ business ‘deal’ that just somehow doesn’t feel right. The enemy wants you to get revenge. The enemy wants you to look at the office secretary for just one second too long. The enemy wants you to jump off that bridge.
A few examples of those thoughts that just ‘pop-up’:
- Fear
- Revenge
- Hate
- Worry
- Divorce
- Suicide
- Murder
- Theft
- Jealousy
- Rage
- Lust
- Rejection
- Addiction
- Failure
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2Co 10:5: 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; |
Excerpts from book: Soul Care School (course one) available for download from Kanaan Ministries: www.kanaanministries.org
LET HIS LOVE SHINE….
