Captive Thoughts 
By Mike Rule

The scriptures tell us to take every thought captive. Recently I have been wondering if it shouldn’t say, Take every feeling captive. Yet as I ponder this I realize that our feelings stir our thoughts. If I take my thoughts captive, the feelings become irrelevant and no longer control me. This in turn means I am free to experience my emotions while not taking them too seriously. Being free of my emotions means that I can have them without letting them be ‘in the driver’s seat’ either by giving them full vent or forcing them away because I find them uncomfortable. Being free of my emotions does not mean I don’t have them. It means Christ is bigger than my emotions and I can take them to Him.

Verses for Reflection

For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 CJB

Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. Romans 8:6 CJB

Then be humbled under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in time; “casting all your anxiety onto Him,” because it matters to Him concerning you. I Peter 5:6-7 LITV

Cast on Jehovah what He has given, and He will keep you; He will not give the righteous to waver, forever. Psalm 55:23 LITV

For God has given us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 CJB

So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. Romans 8:12 CJB