Your mind is the battlefield where victory or defeat is decided. That’s why Paul writes, ‘We lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.’ You have a choice: either you lead your thoughts, or your thoughts will lead you. Either you take your thoughts captive, or your thoughts will take you captive. Where do thoughts come from? Everywhere. If you spend quality time with God each day in prayer and the Scriptures, your thoughts will be guided by God. If not, your thoughts will be guided by the world around you. You don’t have to accept every thought that comes into your head. Instead, you should measure each thought against the standard of Scripture, which calls for obedience to Christ. Here is a practical example: if someone hurts your feelings, make a decision right then and there that you won’t be upset with them for days on end. That only gives Satan the opportunity to plant seeds of bitterness (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). Instead, you can reject negative thinking and refuse to let it drain you of your peace and joy. The same is true when you are tempted. The best way to conquer a wrong thought is to replace it with a right one. As you renew your mind with God’s Word each day, your thinking will change and begin to line up with Scripture. Then, day by day, godly boundaries around your thoughts will be established and reinforced. These limits will not only keep you out of deception and defeat but help you to live a more enjoyable, godly life.
