Captive Thoughts

Have you ever read something that resonated so much with you that it became something you’ll never forget? A truth that just stays with you? That happened to me one day as I was beginning to read a book that a friend gave me, The Jesus Code by O.S. Hawkins. This analogy is too good to keep to myself, and I feel compelled to share it.

“Our minds are like a hotel. The manager can’t keep people from coming into the lobby, but he can keep them from getting a room. It is the same with our thoughts. It is not a sin when an impure thought goes through our minds. The sin comes when we give it a room and let it settle down there.”

Selah. Pause and consider that. 

Not long after reading that, I heard Dannah Gresh, one of my favorite speakers, teaching about our thought patterns. She said, “Are you taking your thoughts captive, or are they taking you captive?” What a great question, right? It is based on the following passage of Scripture –

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Every. Thought. Captive. I don’t know about you, but throughout the course of a day, my mind is filled up with thoughts. The lobby has a lot of visitors. Again, the problem isn’t necessarily when the lobby is full. The problem comes when I decide to give a room to a thought that shouldn’t get one. So, how do I know which thoughts to entertain and which thoughts to take captive and expel from my lobby? The Apostle Paul gives us specific directions.

“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.” (Philippians 4:8)

There’s the list. Pretty straightforward, isn’t it? If the thought I’m entertaining doesn’t align with what’s on that list, it needs to go. This is powerful, life-changing truth. So many big problems arise when we dwell on thoughts that we should be taking captive. It’s so true that those thoughts can easily take US captive.

Here’s a real-life example. Several years ago before I was married to my wonderful husband (who is one of God’s good gifts to me), I was outside mowing my lawn. Now, to fully understand this, you need to know that I hated being single, and I completely resented having to mow the lawn. I know that probably sounds silly, but I’m just being totally honest. It wasn’t uncommon for me to have a negative attitude while mowing. So, this particular day, I’m out there mowing, and all of a sudden a single, simple thought came into my mind. “No one cares about you.” Well, I was a hotel manager with a negative attitude, and I said to that thought, “Here’s your room key. Enjoy your stay.” As I continued to mow, that one little thought grew into more thoughts like it. “If anyone cared about you, they would come help you mow this lawn. You know, no one even appreciates the things you do. If you were gone tomorrow, no one would even notice.” As I entertained it, the original thought took on a life of its own. Guess what happened next? My feelings got involved (thoughts tend to have that effect on feelings). Before too long, I was frustrated, angry, and depressed. 

Then, by the grace of God, I stopped and realized that my mind had been completely assaulted. What I was entertaining was a lie that had been whispered into my mind. I was able in that moment to send that thought right back out the door. I had to remind myself of what God’s Word says and also of what was really true.

Have you ever been there? Have you entertained a thought that just took on a life of its own? A thought that was not based in truth that got a luxury suite in your hotel? Are you taking your thoughts captive, or are they taking you captive?

Paul says something profound as he continues on in Philippians.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)

Practice these things. This is powerful. We can actually practice taking our thoughts captive. First, we measure the thought up against the truth of God’s Word. If the thought passes the Philippians 4:8 test, it’s a keeper. It gets a room. If it doesn’t, we find and meditate on the truth from God’s Word that counters that thought, and we take the thought captive and refuse to give it a room. Here are some examples –

Thought – No one cares about me (sounds familiar, right?).

Biblical Truth – “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.” (Psalm 139:17-18)  “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38,39)

Decision – This thought doesn’t make the reservation list. It has to go.

Thought – I hate the way I look.

Biblical Truth – “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14) “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim ‘How clumsy can you be?'” (Isaiah 45:9)

Decision – This thought doesn’t align with God’s Word, and it can’t stay.

Thought – I am so thankful that I’m forgiven.

Biblical Truth -“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) “Lord, if You kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You. (Psalm 130:3-4)

Decision – This thought aligns with Scripture, and it can have a room in our hotel.

Thought – I can’t stand her because she drives me crazy.

Biblical Truth – “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (I John 4:20) “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Decision – This thought doesn’t match the truth of God’s Word, so it has to go.

Practice these things. We know the thoughts that tend to come back around over and over again to the lobby. If we can practice, we’ll be ready for them the next time they come. We don’t have to give them a room anymore. We can choose to fill our minds with what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. If we do that, there won’t be any vacancy for the thoughts that don’t belong. 

Notice what Paul said at the end of Philippians 4:9. “…practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” The end result of taking our thoughts captive is peace. Peace. What a beautiful truth. 

This is my challenge to us all for this week. Let’s practice taking thoughts captive, even if it sounds a little silly. Let’s especially practice with those thoughts that tend to trip us up. Let’s arm ourselves with the truth of God’s Word, and be ready for them. And let’s see if we experience more of God’s peace as a result.

Father, thank you for the practical truth that is in Your Word. Thank you for showing us how to walk in victory even over the thoughts that bombard our minds. Help us this week to practice these things. Give us the grace to measure our thoughts against the truth in Your Word and to take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. I pray that this will be life-changing for all of us as we apply Your Word to our lives. Amen.

-Dana