Jun 20 – Bring Every Thought Into Captivity!

“bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Our mind is a battlefield. There is a constant war between sinful thoughts and holy living. Carnal thoughts and spiritual thoughts fight against one another. If we give room to fleshly thoughts, sin will overtake us. Therefore, we must be very careful concerning thoughts and temptations that lead us into sin. We must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Once, a brother was delivered from the habit of drinking, returned to the right path, and began to grow in a holy life. But one afternoon, while he was alone at home watching television, a commercial deeply affected his heart. In the advertisement, a woman poured liquor into glasses until they overflowed, and with a sweet voice invited many to drink.

As he watched her serving alcohol and people merrily drinking, his imagination began to work rapidly. He was reminded of the drinking habit he had once hated and abandoned. Thoughts arose within him: “How enjoyable it would be to drink again!” Sin began to cling to him once more.

At the same time, another thought arose within him: “I am a child of God. I should not drink this.” A great struggle began between the two. A fierce battle raged in his mind. Whenever he closed his eyes, the image of the bottle and the woman kept replaying in his thoughts. The more he meditated on it, the stronger his craving for alcohol became. Finally, he went to a liquor shop and drank to his heart’s content. After that, he could no longer overcome that habit.

We must be careful concerning our thoughts and imaginations. There is tremendous power in a person’s imagination. If someone continually thinks about sinful pleasures, those thoughts and memories will defile his inner man and eventually draw him into the path of sin. But the person who surrenders his thoughts to prayer, holiness, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit walks in the path of victory.

Children of God, the very moment sinful thoughts arise in your mind, cast them away and resist them through the blood of Jesus. Do not give place to lusts and allow them to conceive sin. Yield yourselves to holy thoughts.

Verse for further meditation: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21)