The Battle For The Mind

“…Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

The verse above really had me a in pickle.  My husband and I had started the day off on the wrong foot. Unfortunately, this beautiful spring morning had begun with quite a disagreement.  As the day wore on, I found myself coming up with all sorts of reasons for why I was right and he was wrong.  With each passing hour, the roots of pride boldly sprouted in my heart while the fruit of humbleness (which would have me apologize and ask for forgiveness) withered. Later that afternoon while sorting through the day’s mail, boldly printed on the back side of an envelope was the verse found in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Upon reading it, the Holy Spirit immediately began to convict my heart. 

I realized that instead of taking my thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ, I had become enslaved by wrong thinking and thus was rebelling against Christ. My unholy, ungodly, self-centered reflections had not only caused a greater emotional divide between my husband and me, but it had also formed a breach between me and God.  At once, I sank to my knees on the kitchen floor and sought the Lord for forgiveness for my haughty thoughts and asked Him to restore me to a right relationship with Him as well as renewing a right spirit within me.

As I awaited my husband’s return home from work so that I could readily apologize, I pondered upon the surprising fact at how quickly my thoughts, if left unchecked, can lead me away from Truth and right relationship with God and others.  I realize that the battle for the mind is one that must be intentionally fought daily with the Holy Spirit’s help - even minute-by-minute! May each of us be fully aware of our how and when the Adversary sneaks into our thought-life and tries to instill notions of self-righteousness, pride, and even self-loathing.  May we each be quick to take captive the sinful inclinations of our deceitful hearts, and may we be faithful to fully and obediently surrender those thoughts to Christ.  May our thoughts and our actions always be pleasing to Him!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Emily Byrd

Above All Else Podcast