Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

II Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 

The context for II Corinthians 10:5 is Paul’s writing about Christian warfare just as he did to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 6.  A Christian faces daily attacks by evil forces that are powerful and can be like strongholds (fortresses). What are examples of strongholds in the lives of Christians?  Strongholds are thinking patterns that keep you from being and doing God’s best.  Strongholds include guilt, doubt, low self-love, wrong images of God (e.g. He is cruel or distant or unloving), life-long habits like sexual immorality and other evil bondages.  Strongholds can also include what Paul calls “speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God”.  These strongholds are what Christians face in trying to spread the gospel to unbelievers who are victimized by lies and deceptions about who God is, who Jesus is, who they are as potential children of God, and the claims of the Bible.  If you have tried to witness to a family member or friend or neighbor who is resistant to your witness about the gospel of Christ, you know clearly how powerful these strongholds, speculations and lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God can be.

In order to remove strongholds from your life you must adhere to the truth, the Word of God.  Whatever you might be thinking about yourself and whatever others are saying or speculating to be the truth, you must compare these to what the Bible says.  To be obedient to Christ is to obey His Word.  While you may never be obedient 100% of the time, this certainly can be the goal of your life, especially when you know that you are facing strongholds attacking you personally or attacking others of whom you are praying about their salvation. 

Another aspect of approaching this pinnacle of obedience in your thought life is to meditate on what Paul wrote in Romans 12:2---be transformed by the renewal of your mind ---every day pray about this.  Your mind must be reprogrammed to stop thinking so much that is impulsive and baseless compare to God’s standard.  What if you were to think about God and His Word before doing or saying anything that you know is evil?  Of course you would not do it if you claim to be a Christian.  How can you discipline yourself from this day forward to think spiritually more of the time?  The more time you spend in God’s Word, the more saturated your mind will be with His Word.  Remember that the only offensive weapon against the attacks and schemes of the devil is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).  Such discipline will enable you to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

What do you think of this very challenging thought---taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?  Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it?  How close are you to meeting this challenge?  Don’t be intimidated if you know that you have a long way to go.  Remember that you have the Lord to help you.  “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).