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, New International Version)
Theme: The Wisdom of Discipline
Title: Discipline and Deliberation
Reflection:
The saying goes that the “pen is mightier than the sword,” but it has often felt to me that the “thought is more powerful than the pen.” Thoughts are the impetus for our words and actions, whether you explicitly acknowledge them or not.
As an educator who teaches an anatomy course, I impress on my students that the brain (though comprised of nervous tissue) functions like a muscle. It has “muscle memory”! Your thoughts actively train your brain to make new connections that solidify as you age. This concept is known as “neuroplasticity.” Your brain literally rewires itself to become more efficient depending on what you are thinking/doing. A mind that practices restfulness becomes more adept at resting. A mind that regularly ruminates in anxiety is quick to become anxious in future instances.
It is imperative as believers that we are disciplined about how we are wiring our brains. In our Scripture passage today, while addressing those who are questioning his authority to criticize the church of Corinth, Paul is referencing a similar idea of neuroplasticity – but one of the spirit (spiritual-plasticity?). Paul asserts that there is a war being waged, one that can only be fought by training your mind. Paul was given the gifts from Christ to prepare the church of Corinth to strengthen their hearts and minds. He states that every thought must be willed into submission, so that it becomes second-nature to submit in obedience to Christ.
Conclusion:
As an “anxious thinker,” I have to be very intentional about taking my thoughts captive. Some exercises I practice are short meditation, finding Scripture that directly combats “lies” that I tell myself, and using worship music to fill my thoughts when I can’t find the words to do so myself.
What are some techniques you utilize to hold your thoughts captive? What are some “brain-wirings” you would like to work on “re-wiring”? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Contributor: Natalie Christie-Savath
March 26, 2025 at 5:24 am
Meditation on scripture, prayer, listening and singing songs of worship help to halt and/or redirect my thoughts. IAM on a long journey to rewrite my brain in regards to my relationship with food.
March 26, 2025 at 6:23 am
Good Morning,
I have been on a journey to educate others within my profession about the importance of adopting a Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset. As the Word of God reminds us in various scriptures of not being anxious and trusting God with all our heart…it can be a struggle due to external circumstances.
The good news is that by shifting your focus on being centered during moments of discomfort, you can shift your thinking.
Some Tips- Implemention of Safe-Care practices such as: Journaling, Mindfulness, prayer, coloring, reframing thoughts(CBT), etc…
Have a Victorious week.
Blessings
March 26, 2025 at 7:15 am
I pray and try to listen to what the Lord is telling me instead of entertaining negative thoughts that are meant to distract me and my fellowship with Him. I remember one of the scriptures I studied in my Bible study. It’s from Psalms 46:10 – “ Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NIV. I also like The Passion Translation (TPT) “ Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.
I think this verse is also good to hold our thoughts captive. It’s an invitation to rest in God’s sovereignty. The command to be “still” is not just about physical stillness but about a heart that trusts God even when circumstances feel out of control. Negative thoughts, anxieties and fears are not from God. By being still, we can know God’s purpose for us. Surrendering all to Him. Being still will make us realize that our God is not a God of chaos but a God of order and purpose.
God wants our thoughts, heart and mind to be synchronized or aligned with him, and that is only possible if we stay still and trust Him, who is enough for us , All by Himself.
March 26, 2025 at 10:16 am
When you take something captive, you hold onto it. However, the verse says not only to take it captive but to make it obedient to Christ in other words to align our thinking and actions with Christ’s teachings and authority. But my tendency is to take it captive and keep it with me 😩. When I try to rewire my thoughts about not being as intelligent or smart or educated as some, I read verses that speak to who I am in Christ. Some of my faves are : Christ says I’m made in His image ” – Genesis 1:27… God says I’m valuable Matthew 6:26. God says I am His beloved child 1 John 3:1-2
March 26, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I need to keep reminding myself that I can’t be passive about renewing my brain the way God wants me to. If I am not actively allowing God to control the wiring of my brain, there are always other forces trying to fill the gap. Take social media, for example. Based on concepts such as neuroplasticity, large corporations have invested billions of dollars into creating algorithms that “wire our brains.” Of course, we are not thinking about neuroplasticity as we scroll, but the social media giants have certainly thought about it. There are many forces that want to wire our brains for profit and power. If we are to take our thoughts captive, we can’t allow social media algorithms to hold us captive.
March 26, 2025 at 7:42 pm
There is a technique, I have been using for years to bury negative thoughts. I think I borrowed this idea from Norman Vincent Peale. I try to drown out the negative thoughts by repeating 10 times the following scripture “I sought the Lord and he heard me and he delivered me from my fears” (Psalm 34:4) I repeat 10 more times if needed to disarm the power of the thought. For bigger “fear challenges” I sometimes meditate on Joshua 1: 1-9 to remind myself that God is with me wherever I go and I do not act in my own strength.
March 26, 2025 at 8:53 pm
A technique I like to utilize is reciting either a prayer or a verse. I do this as many times as I need to until whatever thought is taken captive and replaced by what is truth and what is good and what is holy. In a way, some meditation definitely helps me as well.