How to Take Your Thoughts Captive: A Practical Tip

I started attending a new small group at church for the fall semester last Saturday. Only 3 out of 10 members attended, including myself. As we sat at the table introducing ourselves to each other, I couldn’t help but notice that I felt comfortable and at ease to engage openly in conversation with the other two women that I have not met before at church. They attend the earlier services; I attend the last service because I don’t like to rush in the mornings on Sundays. I do all the rushing in the mornings throughout the work week, I need a break!

We talked about what was pressing in our hearts. Out of all that was shared, there were a couple of topics that my small group leader shared that stood out to me that night. But for today, I just want to share about one of them. Taking your thoughts captive and how to practically do it. She shared an exercise she got from someone years ago. It's drawing a line down the middle of the piece of paper and writing down the intrusive thoughts. First column is THOUGHTS, and the second column is WORD. She demonstrated when we start experiencing negative, doubtful, intrusive thoughts that go against what God’s Word says, we need to write it down immediately. And as these negative thoughts keep coming and flooding our minds to write it all out. Once done go back up to the top of the paper and across from it write God’s Words and affirmation to you (see example below). As we write this out on a piece of paper or in our journal, we will start to experience peace and tranquility. Because when we take a tangible step to taking our thoughts “captive” we can stop these intrusive thoughts that the enemy uses or tries to use against us to create doubt and separation from God immediately. 2 Corinthians 10:5b (CSB) says, “we take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  Again, when we write down the truths in what God says in His Word against those intrusive thoughts that our enemy puts in our minds, Satan must obey Christ and His authority over him. Satan will stand down and go away.

 In Ephesians 6:12 and the previous 2 verses of 2 Corinthians reminds us that our war is not in the flesh but in the spirit.  “For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (CSB)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)

Wow, what a great idea! I never thought of doing this before, to actually write it all out on paper and holding them captive in Jesus' name. Yesterday as I was doing my bible study and answering the study questions, I started experiencing doubtful and intrusive thoughts. For example, “like really? Do you actually see or think God is working in you? For reals?”. And they just kept on coming full force, I had to stop them right then and there. I took out my notebook, drew a line down the middle of the page, wrote “THOUGHTS” on left side and “WORD” on the right side, and just starting writing down every intrusive thought that kept raising through my mind. I read both sides/columns out loud and finished off in a prayer "In Jesus' Name, Amen." And guess what? I felt that peace and tranquility that my small group leader shared in our meeting the other night. It was liberating and I felt free from those awful thoughts. This is an exercise that needs to be done every time intrusive thoughts come in. This is NOT a one-time deal. You must believe and do this with the authority Jesus has given you . There is power in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-24, 16:33, Mark 16:17-18, Acts 4:30, Philippians 2:9-11)! Jesus is exalted and His Name is above every name (Philippians 2:9).

Hallelujah!! Praise God! He is worthy of our praise and worship.

Don’t get me wrong, I have verbally taken intrusive thoughts captive before. However, this sounded like such a great idea and a different way to approach to exercise what is written in 2 Corinthians 10:5b. To me it is more of a visual way of putting it in writing, and declaring Jesus' name over it.

I hope this message encourages you in your faith walk with Jesus.

I encourage you to use this practical tip and put it into practice the next time you experience this and struggle with those intrusive thoughts!

Blessings.

Example:

THOUGHTS	WORD
God let bad things happen to me when I was young	There is evil in this world, God has and will continue to use those experiences for good and for His Glory. God has turned it around for good for me to use as a testimony and help others in Jesus’ name.
I haven’t seen God working in my life	God works in mysterious ways, I cannot see it, but I know God is working and in control. God has provided and protected me thus far.
I am not enough	In Phil 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Also, in God’s word it says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.