It Starts in the Mind: Taking Thoughts Captive

Guiding Scripture: “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)

Famous quote: “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” (Unknown)

Most people have no idea how out of control their thought life really is. This is a big problem, because your thoughts influence virtually every aspect of your life in some way. Here are a few suggestions to help you get your thought life in order:

Think about what you’re thinking about.

• Take time to pay attention to your thoughts throughout the day. How often does your mind wander? How long does it take you to notice when it does?

What are you listening to and why?

• What kind of music do you listen to? How does it make you feel when you listen to it?
• What kind of news do you consume? How does it make you feel when you listen to it?
• There’s a difference between being informed and being influenced. When the information you’re consuming begins to affect your mood, you’re being influenced.

Who are you listening to and why?

• Consider the different voices you hear throughout your day, i.e., podcasters, social media influencers, coworkers, etc. How do you feel when you listen to them? Are they uplifting you or bringing you down?

Be willing to course-correct if your thought life gets off track.

1. Read the Bible for a Godly perspective.
2. Seek God in prayer.
3. Talk to other Christ followers who can validate your perspective.
4. I tell my son, “You can’t always control the thoughts that come into your head, but you can control whether or not they stay there.”
5. At the end of the day, you have to choose where to focus your mind.

Action Step: Conduct a “thought audit” of your thought life this week. Make changes to the information and voices you’re listening to if necessary.