"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.

Obedience begins with the mind. If we take our thoughts captive and don’t allow them to take us prisoner, we are able to walk in step with the Father. In posing this as spiritual war for the mind, Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians reveals an essential truth. Wrong teaching leads to wrong thinking, which leads to disobedience to Christ. Understanding the true knowledge of God leads to right thinking, which leads to obedience to Christ.

Thoughts like ‘I’m just not good enough,’ are not from God because they don’t lead to love, compassion, or rejoicing in God’s creation. While it’s true that, on our own, we’re not good enough, the truth is that we don’t have to be. We aren’t enough but God is. We don’t have to worry about our weaknesses or feel ashamed of them because God already knows what they are and has made provision for them. So, when these kinds of thoughts come into our heads we can take them captive and make them obey what God’s Word says. For example, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 deals with the question of not feeling good enough. Paul writes, ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’

Ponder:
What thoughts are in your head today that need to be taken captive and surrendered to God.
Try rephrasing these thoughts so they align with God’s word. You might find scriptures that speak about your specific thought patterns and write them on cards to put where you can see them daily.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Before I was formed, You knew me. Thank You that what You say about me is the truth and that, as Your child, I can disregard all worries, anxieties, and lies that try to mislead me into thinking wrong thoughts. Thank You that by Your Spirit I have the power to take captive my thoughts and make them obedient to Your Word. Let my mind be a place where Your Word dwells; help me to meditate on it day and night so that I can quickly identify any thoughts that are not of You and replace them with thoughts that align with what You say. I know that out of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34-40) so let obedience begin in my thought life, Lord.
In Jesus name I pray, amen.