Whatever I learned about the Spirit, the strategies I have accepted to manage my thoughts, and argue for God to change my thinking, I felt like I was in a losing struggle.
My thoughts were diverse. I would have sexual and lusty thoughts. Thoughts of self -doubt, inadequacy and inferiority. I would even have manipulative and malignant thoughts about how I can check or revenge on someone who crossed me.
My mind was far from thoughts on things from above. My thoughts were selfish, bad and not setting myself or the people around me. My thinking was absolutely not glorified God who felt for me.
But there was a time when enough was enough. I was tired of being trapped in the cycle of smelly thinking. I had to go back to the word because everything else I tried to put in my own strength did not help my case.
In my search I found this Scripture that set the change of events and forever turns to my thinking:
“We are human, but we do not wage war like people. We use God’s powerful weapons, not worldly weapons, to define the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every pride of the obstacle that prevents people from knowing God.
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 NLT“Because although we live in the natural kingdom, we do not conduct a military campaign with the help of human weapons, with the help of manipulation to achieve our goals. Instead, our spiritual weapons are stimulated with Divine power to dismantle the defense defense behind which people hide.
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 TPT
What does it mean to imprison your thoughts?
I am so happy that you asked.
If you capture your thoughts, it means being a manager and steward of your thoughts. Using your authority to search the thoughts that in your head, know what to keep and what you have to filter out of your mind.
If you are your thoughts of your thoughts, you give the confidence and courage to manage what gets rooted in your heart, mind, soul and body. The parts of you that you must use to love God with everything you have.
To capture something, the action is to hold something or someone as a prisoner. Another definition expresses that to be trapped, it must be detained, to stay within the borders, not allowed to act or to move freely.
This is why the Scripture admits us to imprison our thoughts, because God knows that our thoughts can be negative, angry and not be tailored to what God wants our thinking. I wish our thoughts can all be good and disciplined, but we are human, so we cannot trust our own strength, but on God’s powerful power to imprison our thoughts.
What are thoughts?
Thoughts are the ideas and opinions that are produced by thinking or suddenly appearing in our minds. With this definition I am reminded that we have our responsibility in our thinking production, but there is also part of our thoughts that come in through external implantation. External sources can be what we listen to, read, see, from Satan or even from God.
What does the Bible reveal about our thoughts?
Our thoughts in the Bible reveal that our thoughts can be to decide. Our thoughts come from God or from flesh/satan. There is no in between.
The word reminds us that thoughts cannot be managed with the strategies of the world, but only throw the powerful weapons that God offers. With these powerful tools we can destroy any attitude and barriers that try to suffocate the truth that we already know from the Bible.
Below I will share 3 critical steps with you to imprison your thoughts.
3 critical steps to take your thoughts in captivity
The best way to take your thoughts in captivity is to work in these 3 simple steps:
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Recognize the thoughts that come
You cannot record what you cannot see or are not aware. You once tried to catch a fly with blindfolds on. That’s crazy! You must identify a logbook and keep track of what kind of thoughts that appear in your head, both good and bad. Identify the common themes that appear and in that consciousness you start to get the upper hand.
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Filter it through the Word of God and Prayer
Every thought and theme, look for a notebook to combat that thought or a Bible persons that will help you overcome. Pray to God and ask him to show you the truth to use to combat the negative and bad thoughts that appear.
Also make sure that you also check your positive thoughts. Determine whether your positive thoughts are tailored to God’s ways or are a form of poisonous human positivity that actually works in disobedience as good will.
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Speak the truth back to the thoughts verbally
Now that you know what to look out for if it is related to your thoughts, you speak the truth back to those thoughts verbally. Many people, including myself, struggle by trying to control thoughts with thoughts, what is the worst thing you can do.
You have to talk about negativity. You have to close those bad thoughts loudly and clearly, so the devil will flee.
Comment: Also note where you speak and talk about. In it you can identify where you are in your authority. Win your thoughts or do you capture and set limits with your thoughts by proof of what comes out of your mouth?
What are some daily activities to imprison your thoughts and a renewed spirit?
These are all activities and practices that helped me on my journey to manage my thinking, but the ultimate help was found when I surrendered my thinking to God. I let go of my own control and allowed God to renew, redeem and reinforce my thinking in a way that glorified him.
All in all,
Correcting your thoughts is of vital importance that single mothers are in full obedience to Christ. Our thoughts play a large part of how we feel, act and believe. Single mothers, it’s time to imprison those thoughts that don’t help to grow your relationship with God, to help you heal and/or to survive to bloom to your children.
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