I have discovered the hard way how powerful our thoughts can be. I realized that I needed to stop my every thought in micro-second speed and check it out and interrogate it before it made its way further into my mind and set up residence. If it was able to forge a home in my mind, it would be free to return at will holding me prisoner to its influences.
I had occasions where my husband would say something that I would take the wrong way, and I would be reduced to tears. My mind would be flooded with all kinds of thoughts ranging from “I deserve better than this,” to “He doesn’t love me anymore.”
The more I wallowed in those thoughts, the more my mind rambled; and at the end of my pity party, I’d always feel worse than before. One day, however, after thinking about the captivity of thoughts, my husband said something and I went sulking into another room.
As I began to mumble the same old thoughts again, I stopped and decided to try this captivity thing. I had a discussion with myself and laid out the negative thoughts one at a time and matched them each with reality. The “He doesn’t love me anymore” was the first to fall. I lined up the acts of love that my husband does for me on a daily basis.
Many times he goes beyond his arthritis comfort zone to be of service to me. When I pictured the tenderness and sensitivity in his eyes, I knew that he loved me, no matter what thought was trying to get in. I remember saying out loud with a little laugh, “That’s crazy! I know he loves me!”
It was as if I had instantly shot that thought down with a bazooka! I felt release, and I proceeded with the next thought. That afternoon was so liberating; and as God is my witness, those thoughts have never entered my mind again.
Memory Verse:
“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 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Dearest Lord, help me to remember to be watchful and shine the light of truth on each thought before I allow it take residence in my mind. I want nothing but the truth in me. I desire to stay free in You so that I can be a victorious, effective witness to all. Help me demolish current negative thoughts that are robbing me of joy, including . . .”
Contributing Writer:
Theresa Childress
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