Taking your thoughts captive
I have been reflecting on what I should focus this devotion on this week. I thought, at one point, if someone sat me down and said, “Rory, please share an important lesson from your walk with God over the last 25 years.” I think that would be a challenge. Should I focus on how fiercely he loves us as sons and daughters? Or his incredible grace, which is new every morning? Or….well, you get my point. God is so deep, so wide and there is no end and I am so glad we have all eternity to continue that journey. However, one lesson that I sense is pertinent for the times we are living in is the ‘Taking Our Thoughts Captive.’
I have learnt over the years it’s critical, if we want to live a victorious Christian life, to be aware of our thoughts and to bring them in line with the Kingdom of God. I imagine it would surprise you to hear that the National Science Foundation estimates the human mind has between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 1,000 to 2,300 thoughts per hour (if you were awake for 24 hours). What is more concerning is that 80% are negative and 95% are repetitive!
It’s no surprise then that scripture commands us to take every thought captive.
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)
I believe that during this time of crisis, learning this discipline is non-negotiable. I wonder how conscious you have been of your own thoughts recently? We live in a time of 24/7 news. Within minutes of any disaster, plane crash, virus related death happening on almost any part of this earth, the world is made aware. The challenge is not only that it’s often negative, but the sheer quantity of information. A recent study shows that most people are bombarded with an average of 174 newspapers a day. This is a 200 fold increase from just 24 years ago!
Now. Don’t misunderstand me. I love news. For good or bad my father modelled to me reading a newspaper every morning. I fondly recall a brief time when we both worked for World Vision, where we always met during our morning break at the media office. We would be independently drawn to this office as they purchased all the UK mainstream newspapers and leave them out for staff to review. It enabled my father to model to me how to process news and understand there were always two sides to every story. However, as much as I enjoy engaging with events across the world, it can become all-consuming.
I have found when I start feeling depressed and losing hope for the future it’s because many of the thoughts I have are not in line with God’s. Therefore it is so critical to put time aside each day to focus on Christ, reflect on his word and engage with him. I would encourage you to make yourself conscious of your own thoughts and work out what you are focusing on.
No wonder the verse states, ‘take captive every thought…..make it obedient to Christ.’ I heard a preacher, on the topic of our own value in Christ, capture this by saying:
“I can’t afford to have thoughts in my head about me that God doesn’t have in His.”
With this current crisis dominating almost every conversation and news channel stopping negative thoughts has become more challenging. Beth and I learnt through our own mistakes early in this pandemic to limit how much time we spent listening to the news. We even involved Reuben and Savannah by enabling them to fine us if they caught us outside the agreed timelines. This ensures our time as a family is protected.
Finally, I would encourage you to choose your friends wisely. I appreciate most of these relationships are via the phone, Whatsapp, Zoom, Voom and Boom. However, also make sure you protect your communication channels. For example, if you have joined or been added to a Whatsapp group that doesn’t bring life, encouragement, and hope, I would consider muting or leaving the group. Yes, we need to engage with the world, but you need to ensure you are not being overwhelmed or filled with pessimism etc. Proverbs shares how:
‘The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.’
(Proverbs 12:26 - NIV)
I know which friends and groups bring me life and which one's drain me. I ensure those that bring me life are regularly built into my diary and others are limited. Whenever I start losing my hope, peace, or my patience, and become unable to make my thoughts obedient to Christ, I have learnt to quickly review how I am spending my time and who is influencing my life.
So how about you?
Which friends encourage you in your walk with God and day to day life?
What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Turn on the news? Play a worship song? Pray?
Are there any Whatsapp / email groups etc that you need to mute?
Are you conscious of your own thoughts?
I challenge you to find time this week to write down any negative thoughts you are having and any lies you might be believing. Next to each of these ask God to give you the truth. For example:
Lie: There is no hope. Truth: Proverbs 23:18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Confess the lie you are believing. Ask God to replace it with the truth and meditate on that truth during your quiet time. You will probably have to revisit it a few times!
Take care and have a great week,
Blessings,
Rory Parkinson
