2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 For though we live in the body,[a] we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,[b] 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly,[c] but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.“Matthew 16:23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.”
This verse is a great reminder that God is calling us to put the Kingdom of God first, and to seek out God’s perspective. So encouraging to know that God will even give us the desire and ability to do what pleases Him. Abiding in Him, as is so often the case, helps us develop a singular eye, one that is fixed on the Lord’s agenda.
Luke 22:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Him over to them.
Romans 8:6-8 Berean Study Bible “The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.…”
Ephesians 6 ESV”10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
Very often, temptation comes in the form of a thought. Here we see Cain facing such a temptation and God admonishing him to resist it. We know how this story ends and as a result of not taking his thoughts captive, Cain committed the first murder.
Genesis 4:6-8 (BSB) ““Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; you are its object of desire, but you must master it.”
I know we can look at Cain and judge him harshly. The truth is, that according to scripture we have all “murdered” one or more people with our tongue. Romans 1:28-32 lists slandering and gossiping right up there with the worst sins possible. 1 John spells it out very plainly. Hating someone (something conceived in our thought life) is the same as murder in God’s book.
1 John 3:15 “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
James 1:13-18 describes the process. When a thought comes, if we start to entertain it, and roll it around in our mind, we become accomplice to that thought. God tells us we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak and that out of the heart the heart the mouth speaks. Our best defense is to shut down temptation at the first thought.
(the Amplified Bible) “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). 15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [d]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].”
Matthew 12:36 King James Version (KJV) “36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Luke 6:45 NASB “”The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Remember, Proverbs 4:23 says to guard our hearts, out of it flow the issues of life (my paraphrase).
Be wise, be vigilant. Take every single thought captive. If I have a thought that is not glorifying to God, and I catch it at the very first thought, I speak to that thought and the source of that thought and say something like. “I do not agree with this thought, whatever brought this thought, be banished from me and my family and take all your thoughts with you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I tend to treat the first bad thought as a freebie. I have no control over the first thought that pops into my head, but I do have control over the second if I am being mindful of my thinking. If I entertain that thought and think about a second time or longer, I treat that as a sin and confess to God that I was thinking wrong thoughts in addition to the above prayer. Trying not to think something usually backfires for me, so I intentionally then choose to praise God or thank Him for the next few minutes to occupy my mind with something pure, lovely and good.
Philippians 4:8 CEB “From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise.”
This is be a central ” our part” throughout scripture and is essential to having a victorious walk with God.. We will never live the life God planned for us to live if we don’t master our thought life with His help. Let us pray daily and seek His help daily to overcome.
Healing and Discipleship 