We've Got Us a LIVE One, Boys!
Sep 03, 2024
Whenever I read 2 Corinthians 10: 5 about "taking every thought captive," I envision a rugged, talented cowhand swirling his or her lasso in the air, looping the rope around the stray thought, and corralling it into a saddle bag for safe keeping. No strays are going to wander very far off under the wrangler's keen eye and efficient hand.
Trouble is, most of the thoughts that I think are not out there in the open to be snagged by a diligent cowpoke. Studies suggest that we have tens of thousands of thoughts every day, and the majority of them are no conscious. We just operating on autopilot. Don't believe it? Have you ever driven someplace and, upon arrival, cannot remember a single minute of the trip? You've been on thought autopilot!
Other thoughts leap out of my subconscious in moments of stress or frustration. I misplace my keys or my phone, and I blurt aloud to myself, "You are such an idiot! Is it really so hard to put your phone where you can find it?" and after that little foray into my mind, feeling dumber by the minute, I find my phone is in my hand and has been all along.
Can you imagine that cowhand, upon hearing my thoughts uttered aloud, crying, "We've got us a LIVE one, boys! Saddle up and let's RIDE!"
I think that can actually happen in the supernatural world. Paul tells us that we're not dealing with an ordinary circumstance in our thought life. He writes, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:3-5)
So how do we tap into that supernatural lasso?
First, become aware of what you are thinking. Do you think positively or negatively the majority of the time? Are you highly critical of yourself and others? Do you give thought time to your faith, your discipleship, your purpose as you follow Jesus? All too often, we are on autopilot. Awareness is the first step.
Second, equip yourself with the Word of God. Paul wrote to the Romans that they must "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2), and to the Colossians, he said, "Set your mind on things above where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father." (Colossians 3:1-2) Scripture is effective for correction, for doctrine, for right thinking. It has the supernatural power to capture your mind and demolish any falsehood that wants to take root there.
I like the idea that there is a supernatural cowpoke available to me to lasso the thoughts that can hinder my progress, frustrate my discipleship, or doubt that God loves me with an everlasting love. I will let Him continue to corral my thoughts and conform me to His image.
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