Caught and Tagged

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “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.”

Think

Mark Twain wrote, “What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history.”

Picture the vast expanse of the mind as an open sea and Satan, the cunning angler, launching his initial cast strategically into the most important pool, our mind. Like an expert fisherman, he seeks to put his lure in our minds, making it his base. Once he gets a grip, he starts weaving a sea monster – doubts, fears, and hopelessness – holding us hostage. We find ourselves entangled, convinced there’s no way to overcome challenges, save a marriage, rescue a child from addiction, or make a difference in our world. It’s a sea monster of despair skillfully crafted by Satan, making us feel hopelessly locked in a situation with no power to change.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the term ‘demolish’ is an ongoing action, emphasizing the need for perpetual vigilance. We must continuously be on guard as we navigate these waters, ready to catch and destroy the lurking mind sharks. Yet, our battle isn’t waged with a mere rod, reel, and worm. No, we wield the Word of God, described in Hebrews 4:12 as “sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between the soul and the spirit.” As we develop an intimate relationship with Jesus, our minds align with his, transforming our wants and desires to mirror his own.

Our journey involves an ongoing battle against the “thought sharks” strategically deployed by Satan. Armed with the transformative power of God’s Word, our minds can become a fortified defense against his schemes. Through an intimate connection with Jesus, our thoughts align with His, breaking the grip of hopelessness and empowering us to overcome any sea monster that seeks to hold us captive.

Apply:

Capture your thoughts and direct them toward God’s truth. Say this 3 times a day: I have the mind of Christ. I have the righteousness of Christ. I’m accepted in Christ. I’m forgiven in Christ. I’m gifted in Christ. I’m strengthened in Christ.

Pray:

Heavenly father, I want to align my thoughts with yours. Draw us into an intimate relationship with you, aligning our minds with yours. Transform our wants and desires to mirror yours so that we may navigate these waters with clarity, purpose, and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.