Peace in Our Thoughts

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

The battle for peace begins in our minds.  How often have my thoughts carried me away to worst-case-scenarios, or lead me to assumptions that weren’t true?  Jealousy, distrust, insecurity, comparison, fear, doubt, judgement, anger, hopelessness, so many painful roads my mind can lead me down if I’m not guarding my thoughts.  The Gospel has the power to destroy all of these thoughts that would lead us away from living for Jesus and trusting in Him in all circumstances. 

How exactly do we “take every thought captive to obey Christ”?  I have battled fear for much of my life, and when I heard these verses they sounded so promising, but I couldn’t figure out exactly HOW to do it.  The more I learned scripture and the more I spent time with God, the more I began to recognize thoughts that were “disobedient”, if you will, to Christ.  When my thoughts wander into all the things I’m lacking, all the work I have to do, or any type of complaint, I remember Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing”, and I can stop those thoughts in their tracks before I start acting bratty.  When I’m upset with my husband or a friend or coworker and want to stew in all of the bad things they’ve ever done, I remember 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”, and I change my thoughts to focus on the good and true things rather than the offense.  When something happens that triggers my fears, instead of letting my mind consider all of the worst-case-scenarios that could happen, I remember Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for today is its own trouble”. 

In all situations, whatever may be going through my mind, the good news of the Gospel is powerful to combat the thoughts that would hinder my walk with Jesus.  The very act of God coming to earth in humility and gentleness confronts any thoughts I may have that God is uncaring or unconcerned with my life as He would choose to come into this world to save me.  Considering the life Jesus lived, without wealth or reputation, stops any thoughts of discontentment or greed.  Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross takes away all my thoughts of guilt and shame as I know I am forgiven now because of His sacrifice.  And Jesus’ resurrection gives me hope in all situations, that no matter what I am currently facing, when things seem their darkest and most worrisome, I can take all those thoughts captive and remember that if Jesus conquered death He can conquer anything, and He is walking with me through it all.