Taking your thoughts captive simply means gaining control over what you think about yourself and life. The Bible says, to think only about those things which are true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable, and excellent or praiseworthy.
What you put in your mind have an affect on what you think. Remember the scary movie you watched as a kid, then had nightmares? I didn’t take long to realize that the way to avoid the nightmares stop watching that kind of movie. God has provided a way to overcome, unhealthy thoughts and behaviors and gain, the self control and seek. It’s a matter of taking charge over your life -His way.
Here are some ways to take your thoughts captive:
1. Accept responsibility for your thoughts.
You have your ability to exercise control over your thoughts. God warned Cain to focus your mind on the right things, but Cain close to think about the wrong thing -anger and jealousy- which led to his murderous actions. With God’s help we can regain control of our thoughts -to think enabling thoughts instead of disabling ones.
2. Your mind – not just your behavior – must change.
God calls us to change info behavior that does not honor Him. Instead of focusing on your outward behavior, work on discipline in your mind, from which you are behaviors stem. Allow God transform you by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
3. Think through your problems rather then just react to them.
When you experience difficult challenges, you can react to them and think yourself into despair every time. Where are you can look forward to the next opportunity and ask yourself what you learn from this failure. Is your first thought “ I’ll never do anything right?” You don’t have to get trapped in disabling thoughts. You are capable of getting out. Are you a shame, despair, hopelessness, and anger – by taking control of your thoughts.
4. Take your disabling thoughts captive through confession.
Paul urges us to “take after every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (Romans 12:21). Confront your disabling thoughts. Turned them over to God, and become who He see you can be. It will take work to take your thoughts captive each time they pop into your mind. But it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.
5. Choose to focus your thoughts on the right things.
We are to sleep about those things are true, noble, pure, lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8). When we think about both things, god promises to give us peace. What a contrast that issue the thought of millions of people today. Don’t look to a movie, a TV show, or how to wonder what you accomplish this for you. It takes personal discipline and commitment.
6. it is possible.
It is not easy to retrain your thoughts and respond to new positive ways. God empowers you to focus your mind on the right things, it will become easier. You can develop a new frame of reference based on what is right and true.
It is possible to live a life aware of your thoughts and take them captive. God empowers us through the Holy Spirit to gain power over your mind and thoughts.
I began to do this by standing on God’s promises. Every time a thought came into my mind that was demeaning, and untrue. I would think immediately of a promise that God gave us in the Bible. It is not easy but if you want to change your thoughts it is well worth the work you have to put into it.
Practice Makes Perfect!
From Pity to Praise 