Verse of the Day 8-6-22

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

As Christians, our spiritual warfare is often fought on the battleground of our minds, and the conflict involves bringing all our thoughts and desires into line with Christ’s character and purposes. Failing to do so will lead to ungodly thoughts, which in turn will lead to immoral desires, wicked behavior and, in the end, spiritual death. The following six steps will help bring your thought life under Christ’s leadership and authority.

1. Be aware that God knows every thought and that nothing is hidden from him. You will have to give account to God for your thoughts as well as for your words and actions.
2. Be aware that your mind is a battleground. Some thoughts originate from your own desires, imaginations and fantasies. Others come from worldly influences or directly from evil forces trying to influence your thinking. Whatever the source, ungodly thoughts and temptations will resist, oppose and set themselves up “against the knowledge of God.” But you do not have to be a slave to your thoughts; you do have control over what you think. Keep in mind that it is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus himself was tempted. But giving in to temptation is sin. In fact, if you deliberately and foolishly expose yourself to images and situations that inspire ungodly thoughts and desires, you have already crossed a boundary line and set yourself up for spiritual failure.
3. To “take captive every though” requires doing battle against your sinful nature as well as Satan’s spiritual forces. It literally means that when a thought or temptation comes into your mind, you immediately take hold of it before it goes any further into your spirit. You then consider how it measures up to the standards or purity, decency and truth established in God’s Word. This means that you do not dwell on the thought and let it take hold of your mind. Instead, you take hold of the thought and turn it over to God, submitting it to his examination and relying on his strength to resist temptation. It is as if you are saying, “God, here it is; take it. You already dealt with this as you suffered for my sin. I need your help with this issue, and I submit my thoughts to you.”
4. Then, having submitted to God and having resisted and rejected then ungodly thought, you must replace the bad with the good-with thoughts and desires that honor God. Philippians 4:8 says that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” These kinds of thoughts will actually guard your mind against ungodly desires and help you say “No!” to the devil, temptation and sin.
5. Firmly focus your mind-your thoughts, desires and strategies-on Christ and eternal things, rather than on earthly and temporary things. Remember that the mind controlled by the Spirit is characterized by life and peace. Fill your mind with thoughts of God and with his Word and with those things that are noble, excellent and praiseworthy.
6. Always be careful what your eyes see and your ears hear. These are the doors through which thoughts enter the mind. Refuse to let your eyes or ears be instruments for ungodly sensual desires, moral corruption or any “argument or every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” Refuse to set any worthless or evil thing in front of your eyes, whether in movies, books, magazines, pictures, television programs or in other areas of your daily life.

Today’s Bible Readings:

Ezra 3:1-4:23, 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4, Psalm 28:1-9 and Proverbs 20:24-25