The Power of Thought

'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ', 

Let us focus on the latter part of verse 5 here - 'bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.' What is the controlling factor in your thoughts? Our thoughts are a powerful component and we need to be in control of them. We can so easily get things wrong by allowing our thoughts to run away with us. They may be thoughts of condemnation against someone accusatory thoughts about what you think someone is doing or has done - 'I thought I saw them doing this or that'.' Be careful here, that is only a thought. Imagine going into court and saying to the judge, 'I think he or she did this.' The judge would be wanting fact - hard evidence not just things that you think you saw or heard.

Thoughts can deceive; they can also lead to gossip and this can be lethal. Bob Gass says, 'The trouble with gossip is not so much that it is spoken as an intended lie, but that it is heard as if it were the absolute truth.' And this is so true. People can be condemned when they are really innocent, by some thought that someone has fed to someone else. That is the power that thought carries. And mud sticks.

We ourselves can think things that have never happened. We can be so convinced of what the devil has fed into our minds and, no matter what, we are certain that we are right. Our thoughts can be of a particular fantasy, one in which we start off innocently but after a time, it completely takes us over and we become hooked. The more we try to stop this, the more we can be drawn in further. If this type of behaviour is present in a believer, it is not a stronghold as such but, the fruit of one. Strongholds can only be demolished by the knowledge of God - that is by truth. Remember Jesus told us that the truth will set us free John 8:32. So when your relationship to the living Word connects to the written Word, 'you really will be free' John 8:36. If you are not taking the thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, you are instead succumbing to the stronghold, and you won't be free until you submit this all to Jesus.

Thoughts, if we allow them to take over us, are dangerous. Ensure that you remain in charge of them - make them obedient to Jesus. Understand scripture properly. Just because Philippians 4:13 says, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' it doesn't mean that you can go off and climb Mount Everest. You may be successful if you did but you would be taking God's Word out of context. Read and understand things properly; don't let your thoughts lead you in the wrong direction. Don't let your thoughts speak bad about a fellow believer. If your thoughts do this, it is much more likely to be the devil who loves to spread lies about the brethren.

Be in charge of each thought that comes into your head. It makes so much sense.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

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