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Lately, I have been finding it difficult to concentrate and focus my thoughts. I find them rambling all over the place. With Ron’s health going downhill, I find myself playing sad scenarios in my head, waiting for the final shoe to drop, so to speak. It is a terrible way to live. It definitely does nothing to help my mental or spiritual health.
I was able to get to church today and realized how often I confess the same things to God and how often I fail in the same areas over and over again. It is very discouraging for sure! As I was thinking about solution for my situation, I remembered a some passages from the Bible that are as follows:
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience,
when your obedience is complete.Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s,
let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.II Corinthians 10:3-7 ESV
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded,
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”I Peter 1:13-16 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you.Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
They remind me that I need to take my thoughts captive. One passage suggests that this is a way I obey Christ. I obey Christ and punish disobedience. One place suggests to prepare my mind for action by being sober minded and seeing my hope fully on God’s grace. The other suggests the kinds of things I need to set my mind on. It’s amazing how thinking about unwholesome things or false things can bring our thoughts and spirits down very fast isn’t it?
What was Jesus’ attitude toward Peter after the Resurrection and Peter’s Denial?
Providentially, the sermon was at the end of John (21:15-19). It was the story of Peter and Jesus after Jesus’ resurrection and Peter’s prior Denial. He appeared to the disciples after they spent a night without catching any fish. Then they threw their nets on the opposite side of the boat as Jesus commanded and they caught more than they could bring in. While they were bringing in all the fish, Jesus fixed them food on land over a fire and Peter swam to see Him. They had a private talk where Jesus recommissioned Peter to minister and Peter re-confirmed His love for Jesus–the same number of times he denied Jesus.
There were no accusations from Jesus, no desire to manipulate him with guilt, He just asked Peter if he loved Him, Then Jesus gave Peter something to do–feed my sheep/feed my lambs. He didn’t ask Peter to grovel or even spend some time being miserable while he stewed in his guilt. Jesus had forgiven him. It’s amazing. The cost of forgiveness was immense for Jesus. Yet He gave it freely. It was free, but it wasn’t cheap.
What does it even mean to love Jesus? A thought for another day.
I often think about my love for Jesus. When I fail over and over, I wonder, do I really love Him? My behavior doesn’t bear it out. Why do I fail repeatedly? Am I failing to understand that Jesus fully has forgiven me? Do I live as if I am trying to earn my way to heaven despite my supposed beliefs to the contrary? Do I even understand what it means to love Jesus? I guess that is going to be part of what it means to take my thoughts captive in that area.
Meanwhile, here are some basic thoughts about taking my thoughts captive.
So to summarize, how do we take our thoughts captive?
- Awareness of a thought.
- Is it kind, true, necessary?
- Does it meet the Philippians 4 standard of being true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable?
- Is it a thought that conforms to an obedient child of God?
- Then move forward as a confident child of God. Think on it, enjoy it, and relish it. And let the other thoughts go,
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