Pr. 23:12: “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.”
I was told that my blog from yesterday was really sad. It is sad that I chose not to take my thoughts captive, mostly because that was the start of a downward spiral in my life that lasted about a year. I struggled more than I ever needed to and even had thoughts of suicide.
So, how do we take our thoughts captive? It starts with the Word. We have to know it. We have to know Him. Instruction and knowledge are available to us all, and we need to apply ourselves to them.
Let’s look back at Eve in the garden. The Lord told Adam that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When satan came to tempt Eve to eat it, she told him that the Lord said they could not eat it nor touch it. (That’s not what He said) Then satan subtly convinced her that the tree was good for food. We must know the truth of God’s Word, and we must trust it.
Satan even used God’s word when tempting Jesus after His 40-day wilderness experience.
He does the same with us…subtle shifts in God’s word. Nothing that seems too alarming, except that instead of growing us closer to the Lord, it pulls us away from Him. Nothing grossly misrepresented, just enough word play to cause us to begin focusing more on ourselves than we do on the Lord. After all, just as satan wanted to be like God, he tempted Eve with being like God, he tempted Jesus with power and pride; he tries to distract us away from the One true God.
We have access to the Word of God today like no other time in history. Before we accept anything as truth, we need to consult the Word and find out what it says…word for word.
Jesus took His thoughts captive when tempted by satan, when He accurately quoted God’s Word to satan. Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Mt. 4:11
I believe that when we follow Jesus’ example, and do the same, that God show will Himself strong for us, and help us through those tough moments, as well. We don’t have to struggle and head for the downward spirals, but can be lifted up in His Spirit to draw ever closer to Him.
Taking our thoughts captive, we can regain control in our lives, declaring who the Lord of our lives truly is, and trusting that He will do what He said He will do.
He spoke the light, sun, stars, plants, and animals into existence. Whatever He speaks comes to pass. The promises in His Word cannot be lies. What He says has to be. Do you believe it? Claim it!
Believing on His Word,
jamie
considering the word 