Thinking #4—Captivating Thoughts

We do not war according to the flesh. … We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

From the whispered question, “Indeed, has God said …?” to the bold challenge, “Throw yourself down from here, for it is written …”, Satan’s primary strategy for defeating our faith is to build walls of lies, half-truths, and innuendo. Slowly he connects all the untruthful bricks until they become fortresses of falsehood by which he controls larger and larger sections of our cognitive landscape. He suggests that God is unable and unwilling to be a secure, stable, and ultimately satisfying source of joy. He encourages futile speculations about our own ability to provide a satisfying future—either now or in eternity. He promotes programs that appeal to our desire to be self-sufficient and self-congratulatory. But if we fight the fight of faith in our minds, we will succeed in remaining confident and in living righteously. For as we think in our hearts, so we live. If we make the words of God sentinels that stand guard at our eyes and ears, every idea seeking entrance can be challenged, every suggestion monitored, every impression examined. We can even enlist these soldiers to pull the bricks out of Satan’s walls and restructure them under Jesus’ directions into bulwarks against further attacks. But we can only win if we fight.

Gracious Master, strengthen the arms of my heart as I raise the “Sword of the Spirit” to battle the strongholds in my soul. Guide my aim and give me courage, for Jesus’ sake.