HOW THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE

Are you struggling with negative thoughts that keep you discouraged and defeated? Do you feel that most of your battles take place in your mind? The Bible tells us that we can take every thought captive. What does that mean, and how do we do it?

HOW OUR THOUGHTS CAN CONTROL US

A thought begins as a tiny seed in our minds. Depending on what that thought is, it can produce powerful benefits or destructive consequences.

Sow a thought and you reap an action;

sow an act and you reap a habit;

sow a habit and you reap a character;

sow a character and you reap a destiny.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reading a recent article in APS (Association for Psychological Science), researchers conducted an experiment that went on to prove that “suppressing our thoughts is no easy feat and that even when we think we’ve done it successfully, traces of that thought may still linger outside conscious awareness.”

The experiment, which involved getting participants to either imagine or avoid imagining an item over a 7-second period, yielded two amazing findings:

• Even in those participants who believed that they had successfully suppressed a thought, the researchers were able to measure the sensory trace of a thought.
• When participants were told to use a distraction strategy to avoid thinking about an object, they were more successful.

Lab director, Joel Pearson, made this conclusion about the results:

This shows that thought-substitution is a better strategy than direct thought control, while other data shows that mindfulness might aid in general thought control at a sensory brain level.”

Joel Pearson, “Controlling Our Thoughts Is Harder Than It Seems”

When I “think” about it (haha!), I can apply these principles to my own experience. If I try to convince myself by repeating, “Don’t think about eating the candy. Stop thinking about candy,” all I want to do is eat the candy! However, if I replace the thought of eating candy with something else, “Drink a full glass of water. Go outside and take a walk. Stop and breathe for a minute,” I find that it is easier to dismiss or even override the thought.

And that is what I think the Bible means when it teaches us to take every thought captive. No, we cannot control every thought that enters our minds. God knows this. But, He has given us the ability to overcome negative thoughts and replace them with the truth.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE?

Depending on where you go to church or what version of the Bible you may read, the phrase “take every thought captive” may or may not be familiar to you. This is part of Paul’s instruction to the church in Corinth and is found in his second letter:

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 (NIV)

Those are some pretty strong phrases, aren’t they? Retake a look at what Paul tells us the “divine power” of God can help us do:

• “demolish strongholds”
• “take captive”
• “make obedient”

The phrase “take captive” is used in the NIV translation and also in the ESV. The NLT translates this phrase as “capture rebellious thoughts,” and The Message reads, “smashing warped philosophies and tearing down barriers.”

DEFINITION OF “TAKE CAPTIVE”

Again, the language used is compelling. According to thesaurus.com, other synonyms for “take captive” include:

• capture
• force
• grab
• overcome
• subdue

For anyone who has wrestled with controlling negative and destructive thoughts, this is a pretty accurate description. We need to be intentional, purposeful, and often forceful in taking our thoughts captive.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE IN TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE

A licensed counselor gave me an insightful activity to help guide me through the process of learning to control my thoughts. She told me to buy a small box and keep it in a special place in my house. When I struggle with thoughts of fear, doubt, worry, or insecurity, she told me to picture myself capturing those harmful thoughts and placing them in the box. For me, it was helpful to actually write out those negative thoughts on small pieces of paper and put them in the box. This tangible exercise is so instrumental in showing me what it looks like to take my thoughts captive. After doing this, I spend some time in prayer and solitude, imagining handing this box to God.

WHY THE BATTLE IS FOR OUR MIND

Although the passage in 2 Corinthians is particular to Paul waging a spiritual war against the arguments, philosophies, and wrong thinking that come against God’s truth, many places in the Bible refer to the ongoing battle that takes place in our minds. Pastor Rick Warren describes it this way:

A violent battle is raging around us twenty-four hours per day. In 1965, Donald Grey Barnhouse wrote a book about it called The Invisible War. It is the battle for your mind, and that battle is vicious. It is intense. It is unrelenting, and it is unfair because Satan never plays fair. And the reason why it is so intense is that your greatest asset is your mind.”

Rick Warren, The Battle for Your Mind

The Bible confirms that Satan is the Father of Lies and will distort the truth, in both bold and subtle ways, to poison our thinking. It began with his first lie to Eve in the Garden of Eden and remains one of his most effective tools in taking us down. Jesus warns us of his tactics in John’s gospel:

He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44 (NLT)

Paul reminds us of this ongoing spiritual battle in Ephesians:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)

5 WAYS THE BIBLE TEACHES HOW TO TAKE OUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE

Using an acrostic I created for THINK, here are five ways we can turn to the Scriptures to learn practical ways we can learn to take every thought captive.

T – TRANSFORM YOUR THINKING BY TESTING EVERY THOUGHT

When it comes to taking our thoughts captive, we need to examine and test our thinking. We mustn’t believe everything we think. The Bible tells us to transform our thinking by allowing God to change the way we think.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

H – HAND OVER YOUR ANXIOUS & NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TO GOD

Part of taking our thoughts captive is handing them over to God. When we do this, we guard our minds and experience the peace that only God can give us.

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

I – IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE TRUTH FOUND IN GOD’S WORD

As the experiment above showed, it is easier to replace a thought than to reject it. One of the best ways to remove destructive lies is to redeem your thoughts with the truth from God’s Word. When we immerse ourselves in the truth, there is no room for destructive thinking to control our minds.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Phillipians 4:8-9 (NLT)

N- NURTURE YOUR SOUL BY GROWING IN GODLY HABITS

If you want to keep negative thoughts from consuming you, you need a proactively protect your mind by growing spiritually in God’s grace and truth. Developing the godly habits of prayer, solitude, worship, confession, and Bible study are crucial to learning how to take our thoughts captive.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Psalms 139:15 (NIV)

With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
    all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.

Psalms 119: 10-15 (ESV)

K – KEEP RENEWING YOUR MIND DAILY THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Finally, taking our thoughts captive is not something God expects us to do with our own strength and willpower. He has given us the Holy Spirit, whose role is to intercede, empower, and guide us in all truth. We need to lean into the Spirit to renew our minds.

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)

KEEPING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE WITH OUR THOUGHTS

When our negative thoughts threaten to overwhelm us with doubt and discouragement, it is helpful to turn to others who will point us to the truth. I want you to know that here, AT THE CROSSROADS, you can find that kind of encouragement for your heart, soul, and mind.

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