“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
Comment
Sometimes I find my thoughts are not particularly helpful. Worse still they can get me and our relationship into trouble. In my case it’s often because I ‘think the worst’.
For example. I’m about to cut a tree down with a colleague, something I’ve been promising to do for a long time. As I approach the task with axe in hand my wife says: “Are you sure this is a good idea? The tree is quite big.”
I think: “She doesn’t trust me to complete a simple task like felling an overgrown shrub!” I respond sarcastically and I see the pain flash through her eyes. When we talk about it later I realise what was behind what she said. It was not because she was trying to control me or because she didn’t trust my competence with an axe. It was because she was concerned for my safety because she cares for me and loves me. I apologised… I’d been a fool and hurt my closest friend and our relationship.
The Bible encourages us to take our thoughts captive. ‘Thinking the worst’ is something I need to control, otherwise I end up in deep water. What about you? How do you need to take your thoughts captive and obedient to Christ?
Prayer (as a couple)
Dear Father. Help me to take my thoughts captive and to recognise when they are going astray. Be it ‘thinking the worst’ or other areas of my thought life help me to “take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ” in the power of the Holy Spirit. And help me to be forgiving when others fall foul to wayward thinking. For I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen
Prayer (for others)
Dear Father. We lift up … and … to you. We pray that they will learn to take their thoughts captive and obedient to Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Help and protect them in their thinking, for we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen
