Lately I have noticed a few things about my thoughts.
Some of the dramas I have enjoyed watching on TV work on my mind long after I get in bed. Every creak of the floor, any slight shadow movement causes me to jump and my heart to pound as my imagination runs away with me. In an attempt to forget what I just watched, I try to take my thoughts captive so I can fall asleep.
I’ve also noticed I need to remind myself of a few things. Things like … my identity in Christ or the attributes of my God. Sometimes I remind myself of dreams which have been in my heart for a long time.
Basically my thoughts fall into one of two categories – good thoughts and bad thoughts.
Scripture instructs us on our thoughts: “Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5b, NIV).
I have pretty much always heard this explained in the negative, meaning we are to take captive sinful thoughts and make them submit to Christ and Scripture. But Mark Batterson, in his book Draw the Circle, shed new light on this verse:
“This verse is not just about capturing sinful thoughts and getting them out of our minds; it’s also about capturing creative thoughts and keeping them in our minds. It means stewarding every word, thought, impression, and revelation inspired by the Spirit of God. (page 60)
Think about this one. God has given us ideas and dreams which He deposits into our lives, throughout our lives. If we are not careful, they can easily and quickly and subtly slip through our fingers.
Paul, in writing to Timothy, has this to say twice to Timothy:
“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.” (1 Timothy 6:20, NIV)
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”ĆĀ (2 Timothy 1:14, NIV)
The word ‘guard’ means “to keep things from escape; to keep things in safety” (from the New Testament Lexical Aids). Paul was telling Timothy to keep safe the things which God had placed inside his heart. And that is true for us as well.
God gives us dreams which need guarding so that they will not be taken from us by a thoughtless comment or a hurtful circumstance. We take captive those good thoughts so that our lives come into the fullness God has for us. There are times, pursuing our dreams will take an act of obedience for it to come to fruition.
There are thoughts we want to get out of our minds with the help of the Holy Spirit.
And there are thoughts we want to keep in our minds by the help of the Holy Spirit.
This is Day 22 of 31 Days Of Going In Circles. You can find the entire series here .
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Wedded Wednesday and Wed. Prayer Girls and Works For Me and Coffee & Conversation and Wholehearted Wed .
I’ve never thought about this verse that way–but you’re right! We need to guard the good thoughts–God gave them to us for a reason. We need to dwell on them and count them and make sure they stick–write them down–so that we can fit each thought into the puzzle of life.
Yes, the ideas & dreams which God has deposited into our hearts will fit into the puzzle of our lives & into His timeline. May we be faithful to take them captive & guard them well!
It’s amazing how our thoughts can take us captive or set us free. Renewing our minds by thinking on all that is praiseworthy and honorable can be such a challenge, yet, as you wrote, we can do it by the help of the Holy Spirit. God makes us abundantly able when we give Him just a little bit of “I want this thing” kind of attitude! Bless you!
Kaylene, you make such a wonderful point – our thoughts can take us captive or set us free. And it is all our doing either way. May we renew our minds each & every day!
Gosh i always struggle to turn my brain off at bedtime! Its a real pain!
Some nights is easier than others š
YES!!! this is great .. I believe God gives us the ability to see things and express them as well … LOVELY post … I found you on the facebook page 31 dayers
thank you for sharing
Finding the Grace Within
http://www.findingthegracewithin.com
Thank you for stopping here! It has been so wonderful meeting new friends!
Oh help us please Lord to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. … are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; Phil 4 vs 8
Amen, Ali!
I like the reminder that God put these dreams in me. In a sense, my dreams are sacred and worthy. I do not have to be ashamed of myself or my gifts.
God-given dreams are the means by which we fulfill His purposes in our lives. Be all that He created you to be!
My brain works like a machinery once I go to bed and try to get some rest. Somehow when I hear the stillness surround me, that’s when my mind gets crazy loud and keeps me from sleeping. I need to learn to turn it off when it’s time for it to be quiet.
Praying that you would be able to get a good night’s rest & your mind be in peace! Thank you for stopping here!
I totally agree that it’s extremely important to take captive the negative thoughts we have and replace them with “What is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy” (Phil. 4:8 loosely quoted!). For me, it’s the letting go and changing that’s harder, Joanne, than the replacing. I think I get hooked on the feeling that comes with complaining or thinking I’m superior in some way. Yuck! That’s an ugly realization to admit! š But it is “true” although not very noble, pure, etc.! Thanks for bringing this timely reminder to my attention today, my friend! Hugs to you!
Beth, I give you much credit for facing it honestly. Perhaps that is the only way we do change, maybe a little at a time. Always good to join you!
Excellent post. Yes, so often we think of the verse in a single dimension when it fills both the negative and the positive. If we only capture and clear the bad thoughts–we leave a void. We must fill that void with the good, true and beautiful.
I think this was the very 1st time I viewed this Scripture in this way. I am so grateful for what the insight Mark Batterson brings through this book. Thank you for stopping here, Jenny, and sharing your thoughts as well.
Great new perspective! Thanks for encouraging me to take my good thoughts captive too!
Kel, may we take our ideas & dreams captive so that they are realized in our lives! It has been so good to connect with you!