How to Win Control of Your Thought Life (Part 1)

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 10:5, NIV

We are talking about how to live a life that is totally committed to following Christ and living like He did.

We talked yesterday about the fact that the battle for change is in your mind. Today, we’re going to begin talking about how to win that battle. Second Corinthians 10:5 describes exactly what to do. You have to face the fact right now that if you are going to win the battle in your mind, you are going to have to do something. And today is the day to start taking action.

In today’s Scripture, you’re told to “demolish arguments and every pretension [thought] that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” You demolish anything that pops in your mind that acts like it is more important than God or that is an adversary to God.

What does the Bible mean by this? You have to compare anything that comes in your head to the Scriptures. For example, if a sinful thought comes into your mind (Wow! I want all that money!), you compare that thought to the Scriptures (“Don’t be greedy”—see Luke 12:15-31). If that thought is setting itself up against the knowledge of God, it needs to be destroyed.

The point is, you don’t let every thought that comes into your brain stay in your brain. Some people think, I don’t have a choice. Whatever I think just pops in there. Well, you don’t always have the choice in the first moment that it enters, but you do have the choice about whether or not it stays. That’s what this Scripture is talking about: You demand of yourself that thoughts contrary to God be destroyed.

We’re so used to just letting whatever thoughts come into our head be the things we think about. But we do have a choice, and whatever we think about will become our actions and will become who we are.

Today as thoughts come to your mind, begin to recognize if they are of God or not. If you’re not sure, find out what the Bible says about that thought; and if it doesn’t agree with God, don’t allow it to stay in your mind.

Take some time to notice what kinds of thoughts come into your head. In your journal list two or three sinful thoughts you’ve had trouble with lately. Now draw a line through each one, and as you draw each line, wipe out that thought from your mind. Destroy it. As you do, you’ll begin to win the battle. Remember this is a process. It is not a one time thing. This fight will be won. Do no give up.

This article was adapted from Ron Luce’s book Connecting With God.