Every Thought in Captivity

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Be the thinker of your thoughts

Is the glass half empty or half full? If you say half full some would declare you are an optimist. If you say half empty you are a pessimist. If you say it’s just half you are a realist.

Metacognition is an awareness of one's thought processes and an understanding of the patterns behind them.

What is the state of your mind?

Some people worry about things they shouldn’t

Some people don’t care about things they should

Some people like things they shouldn’t

-Jesus prayed in the garden “not my will but thine be done.” He conceded his wants, thoughts, and desires to the will of the Father’s.

-We should too. We must recognize…

-Isaiah 55:8-9 (LSB) 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares Yahweh. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

-We must also realize that God knows our thoughts.

-Psalms 139:1-2 (LSB) 1b O Yahweh, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.

-We also need to realize that God allows us free will.

-Romans 1:24-28 (LSB) 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper,

-Barnes- “He ceased to restrain them.”

Set your minds-

-Colossians 3:2 (LSB) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

(think about heaven, think about the spiritual body described in 1 Cor. 15:42-44 that is to be raised incorruptible and in power.)

-Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

-Romans 8:5-8 (LSB) 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is at enmity toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

Guard your minds-

-1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

-Romans 12:2-3 (LSB) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

-Luke 12:22 (LSB) And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”

What are you filling your mind with? I have noticed a difference in myself when I am listening to the news, secular podcast, watching TV, and other things purely for entertainment versus things that will be edifying and constructive to my faith.

Consider how these thing effect your thoughts and be the thinker of your thoughts, be conscientious about the things you take in.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (LSB) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, 5 as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,