Linda Buishas
How many thoughts do you think each day? Just one Google search led me to a study that suggests we have over 6,000 thoughts during our waking hours. But wouldn’t the more relevant question be, what are we thinking about?
My thoughts often follow a figurative “rabbit trail,” sometimes leading to enlightenment or uplifting circumstances, but other times, they take a path leading to troubling or unnecessary places in my past or worrisome thoughts about the future.
Paul explains why it’s so important to take hold of our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
We are in a spiritual battle of good versus evil. The strongholds are lies which come from within us and from outside of us. But, thankfully, we have mighty weapons of obedience to God’s Word and His power and authority to take hold of every thought, denying anything that would challenge our true identity, remove us from fellowship with God or in any way threaten to destroy the truths God’s placed within us.
Paul warned against heresies which threatened Christians of his day. Not only are our Christian beliefs also being challenged daily, but we also hear words in our personal lives and on every public media, which can negatively influence us in regard to our health, our finances, our freedoms, and our futures as a whole. It’s crucial to take great care that the words that come at us, no matter the tone or intention, do not affect the thoughts within us. Proverbs 23:7 tells us that “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” If we think the same way the world thinks, we’ll receive the same results, but if we keep our minds fixed on God, we’ll remain in His perfect peace.
We can find comfort in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul goes on to give us guidelines that help us keep our minds focused on things of God and to help us judge not only our thoughts but also help us to use discernment when hearing the words of others: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Are we “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”? Are we putting our confidence in God’s authority or in man’s? Where are our thoughts leading us? Are they honorable, just, lovely, commendable, and true?