Taking thoughts captive
Melanie - January 5, 2009
This past weekend I spent a lot of time by myself. Some of that time was spent in productive ways such as trying to purge the house of Christmas excess, but if I'm honest I have to admit that a lot of the time was spent worrying about the upcoming year.
It would probably benefit my worry lines greatly if I would just stop watching the news and reading the financial forecasts, but it seems like everywhere I turn I hear about all the things I'm supposed to be worrying about and so I worry about them.
I start to freak out and calculate numbers in my head and try to figure out if I can feed my family on nothing but Hamburger Helper for a month and before I know what's happening I'm just one big ball of nerves with a side of bad mood.
As it just so happens, I'm participating in the scripture memorization going on at the Living Proof blog. Beth put up a post asking us to leave the scripture we planned to memorize in the comments and I took some time to pray about what scripture I needed to commit to memory.
Later that day, I was trying to finish up some reading for my Bible in a year plan (Which has turned into the Bible in a year and about twenty days. Don't judge.) and read 2 Corinthians 10. Verses 3-5 really hit me over my thick head.
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.
I knew they were the verses I needed to memorize because not only do I need to take every fear-filled thought captive, but I need to remember that, although I live in the world, my weapons and my security are beyond what the world can comprehend.
In Christ, I am secure. And when I make my thoughts obedient to Him, I remember that.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (9)
Amen! I am so excited about the accountability for Scripture memory!
Posted on January 5, 2009 10:44 AM
Thanks so much! I needed that badly this morning — I am having a horribly discouraging day with parenting (my 3 month old) and just feel overwhelmed by how much I dont know and can’t do … thanks for the reminder!
Posted on January 5, 2009 1:12 PM
Yes, yes, yes! Amen! I’m memorizing with Beth too! Lord love us and protect us from ourselves! Well done Melanie.
Posted on January 5, 2009 2:57 PM
Melanie, Since becoming familiar with Beth Moore and learning to pray Gods Word, my life and relationship with God has bolted hyper-drive. I have likewise shared this New Life-style with my family and friends especially my baby grands. They embrace the reality of these true battles without hesitation and such bold joy-fearless they are!
My old tattered brain often struggles with verbatim memorization at things. That said I’m more than a little encouraged that being a part Living Proof Blog scripture class may peel the scales away from my grey matter and allow me to put on the Full Armor of God. Happy New Year Melanie! Tammy
Posted on January 5, 2009 3:03 PM
Melanie,
God used your post like a bullhorn to speak to me. I’m in the process of blogging about my anxiety attack over the weekend, and in the process Sophie linked to this post, and I was like, “Okay, God, I get it!”
Blessings!
Posted on January 5, 2009 3:03 PM
Oh, thank you for the scripture blessing. Every news channel on TV or the radio is shouting the same thing at us- soon the dollar bill will be worth nothing and it will be a luxury to have that Hamburger Helper for a month! :-) You’re right, as Christians we aren’t fighting the battles of this world. All we have to do is rely on God and allow His will to be done in our lives.
Posted on January 5, 2009 3:03 PM
I am memorizing the same verse! It has already helped me deal with a difficult situation that I was trying to handle on my own. God’s word is so real and true!
Posted on January 5, 2009 9:42 PM
Great post! So refreshing and true!
Posted on January 6, 2009 1:11 PM
I struggled with panic attacks for 2 years before discovering 2 Corin. 10:5 in Beth Moore’s Bible studies, Believing God and Breaking Free. I made a list of verses that deals with overcoming fear and read them day and night, plus put them on 3x5s and took them with me everywhere because I’d developed a fear of leaving my home (agoraphobia). Within 6 months, I was able to pray these verses during my panic attacks and the attacks stopped in their tracks. “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against Him.” That standard was His Word. Eventually, I stopped having panic attacks all together. We can’t have the mind of Christ if we don’t know His Word, and we can’t not be anxious if we don’t know how to capture our thoughts with His Word. My daily anxiety has stopped. I still deal with anticipatory anxiety during a crisis, but the verses help me remember I am not alone and my God is mighty to save! I posted the verses on my blog, RedeemedandSummoned@blogspot.com
Posted on January 7, 2009 8:46 AM