.jpg)
Page 1 -
.webp)
Taking All Thoughts Captive
to the Obedience of Christ
By Leighton Garner
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
When we became Christians, we entered into spiritual warfare with wickedness in high places. Our minds became the battlefield. We are continually, daily, bombarded by thoughts from various sources that fight against our ability to walk in the Spirit of God. This warfare isn’t optional for the believer. It’s real, and we either engage in the battle—or we suffer defeat in our Christian walk.
If you’re not a Christian, you're already in the enemy’s camp. You're already defeated from birth, because the Bible says all people are born into sin. You must be born again in Christ to even begin to win in this warfare.
Why the Mind?
Because everything we say or do begins first with a thought. God knows this. Angels know this. Satan and his demons know this. And deep down, we know it too. If we’re going to overcome and live a joyful, peaceful life in the Lord, we must understand the importance of our thought life. Every verbal or physical sin began with a single thought.
You might ask, “Do we only need to take sinful thoughts captive to the Lord?”
Scripture says:
“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 10:5
I used to think that verse referred only to sinful thoughts. But the other day, a good friend corrected me. He reminded me that every thought—whether sinful, distracting, or simply idle—should be taken captive to Christ.
Sign-up to Our Newsletter!
Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions by subscribing to our newsletter. Join our community and be the first to know about our exciting updates and events.
.jpg)
Visit Our Other Website www.mychristianproducts.com
(Please allow a few moments for it to load).
Our site features thousands of products—both Christian-themed and everyday items—all at competitive prices. Simply click the image above to explore the store and see what’s available!
The well-known pastor and Bible teacher, the late Oswald Chambers, used to say we are “wool gatherers.” He used this term to describe the mental distractions that keep us from prayer and true fellowship with God. Chambers believed we must discipline our minds and keep them focused on the Lord. He said we can easily drift into “cotton wool” when we try to think about spiritual things—letting our minds wander into unproductive, pointless territory. These kinds of thoughts, too, need to be brought under Christ’s control.
It might sound like a lot to deal with—and it is. It can feel overwhelming. And yes, if we had to fight this battle in our own strength, it would be impossible.
HOW TO DO ITIf you’re a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living within you. One of His roles is to help us recognize when our thoughts are not pleasing to God or when they hinder our growth in holiness. He’ll show us which thoughts need to be taken captive to Christ. When a wrong or unhelpful thought enters our mind, the Spirit will let us know.It doesn’t hurt to ask the Holy Spirit for help. Pray: “Lord, convict me of any thought that is not from You.”
When these thoughts pop into my head, I say to myself, “Reject!” or “I pass.” Then I immediately shift my focus to a blessing or a promise of God. One of my favorite verses is:Proverbs 4:18 — “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”But there are many others you can cling to.
It really is that simple. Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed at how much mental space opens up for good and righteous thoughts—and how much joy it brings when you bless God through obedience in this area.
When these thoughts pop into my head, I say to myself, “Reject!” or “I pass.” Then I immediately shift my focus to a blessing or a promise of God. One of my favorite verses is:Proverbs 4:18 — “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”But there are many others you can cling to.
It really is that simple. Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed at how much mental space opens up for good and righteous thoughts—and how much joy it brings when you bless God through obedience in this area.