Day 6 — Captain of Your Thoughts

“We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

— 2 Corinthians 10:5 (BSB)

Have you ever had a thought that just kept running around your head? I’m so stupid. Nobody likes me. I’ll never be good at this. Everybody’s talking about me.

Thoughts like that can make your feelings spiral down, down, down. And the more you think them, the more you believe them.

Paul says something powerful: “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Imagine a soldier catching an enemy spy sneaking into a camp. He doesn’t just let the spy wander around! He captures him and brings him to the commander.

Paul says to do that with your thoughts. When a thought sneaks in that isn’t true, isn’t kind or doesn’t line up with what God says, you don’t have to let it run around your mind. You can capture it and bring it to Jesus.

Here’s how:

1. Notice the thought. There it is again: “Nobody likes me.”

2. Ask if it’s true. Is that really true? Is it what God says?

3. Replace it with truth. That’s not true. My family loves me. God loves me. I have friends who care about me. I’m a daughter of the King.

Your feelings often follow your thoughts. If you change what you think, your feelings will often start to change too.

This week, you’ve learned that God made feelings, and how to handle anger, sadness, embarrassment and moody days. You’ve learned to pour out your heart to God. And today, you’ve learned that you don’t have to be bossed around by every thought. With God’s help, you can be the captain of your thoughts.

A true story: You met Amy Carmichael in Book 1: the girl who asked God for blue eyes and later rescued children in India. But did you know how her life ended? After a bad fall, Amy spent her last twenty years mostly unable to leave her room. She must have felt sad, frustrated and even lonely at times. But she didn’t let those feelings take over. She kept praying, and she kept writing, sending out words of comfort and hope that encouraged people all over the world. Even stuck in one room, she chose to fill her mind with God’s truth. You can read her whole story in Brave for God.

Think about it: What’s a thought that often pops into your head that isn’t true? What’s the truth that could replace it?

Try this: Write down one untrue thought you often have. Next to it, write the truth from God’s Word. Read the truth every time the lie shows up.

Dear God, help me take every thought captive and make it obey Jesus. When lies pop into my head, help me notice them and replace them with Your truth. Help me be the captain of my thoughts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.