Joel M Bradshaw

5…and take every thought captive to obey Christ…–2 Corinthians 10

Paul was teaching the Corinthian church about the spiritual war they were all involved in. He would later famously teach the same truth to the Ephesian church (ch. 6) with the “armor of God” passage. The war is fought not in the flesh as in armies with weapons. It is a spiritual war that sees a person progressively led by the Holy Spirit to obey the commands of Jesus more than the temptations of Satan. Thus a person lives a life of self-denial rather than self-pursuit. As we follow Jesus, He provides the power to make this all possible. My following Jesus is the result of Jesus working in me. I will otherwise naturally want to serve myself.

The spiritual war is an inside war, and there is nothing more inside you than your thoughts. If you can control your thoughts, you now can direct your feelings. The thoughts and feelings influence your words, actions, and attitudes. The true moment by moment war in your life, my friend, involves your thought life.

If you consistently stay intentional regarding your self-talk, you will see victories in your battles. Let’s have examples of this pivotal verse in various struggles. I will use the word ‘I’ so you can use these and put them in quotes so you can say them to yourself. Just know that I have said each of these to myself! My war is also a moment by moment war!

1. THE PORN/PURITY STRUGGLE. “I am not honoring God with this fantasy. I need to stop right now. Help me, Lord Jesus, to focus on things that honor you (I will read Philippians 4:8).”
2. THE JEALOUSY/ENVY STRUGGLE. “I need to focus on how God has provided for me and where He has placed me. Help me to be grateful for You, Jesus. You have been so faithful to me.”
3. THE BITTERNESS STRUGGLE. “My sinful anger doesn’t honor God. Jesus, help me to pray right now for the ones who have hurt me most.”
4. THE ANXIETY STRUGGLE. “I can’t control this thing that I am worrying about. I will trust God with this moment”…or…”I can control this thing I am worrying about. I will honor God with this moment.”
5. THE DEPRESSION STRUGGLE. “Stop repeating the hurtful stories from the past. I am no longer those things. God doesn’t see me that way. I will tell myself truths from the Bible that need to now be my story rather than the old depressing stories!”

Hope this helps. Take captive those selfish thoughts, my friends.–JMB