May 16, 2012
Taking Every Thought Captive Part 5
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“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).
Friend to Friend
In my last 4 devotions, I’ve looked at steps to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I’m proud of you for sticking with it! Today’s the last of the series. If you’ve missed any of the series, you can read them all on my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com. Let’s review:
Step One: Recognize the Enemy’s True Identity
Step Two: Recognize Satan’s Lies
Step Three: Reject the Lies
And today we’re looking at step four: Replace the lies with the Truth
Just as Satan tempted Eve in the Garden, he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. How did Jesus fight the enemy? He fought him with Scripture – He conquered him with the truth. Each time Satan put an evil thought before Him, Jesus said, “It is written….”
It is not a sin to be tempted. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted and yet did not sin. It becomes a sin when we act on the thought or accept the lie as truth. As Martin Luther once said, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hat.”
Let me give you this example. I believe that Satan sends us e-mails all day long (evil-mails). If you get a seductive e-mail on the screen of your computer, is it your fault? Not unless you’ve placed yourself on some bad e-mail lists. When does that e-mail become a sin? The moment you click on it and accept the invitation.
Likewise, when the enemy tempts you to believe a lie, the temptation is not sin. It becomes sin if you accept the thought as your own and act on it. Your responsibility is to delete the lie and replace it with the truth.
When it comes to defeating Satan, Dr. Neil Anderson said it well: “You don’t have to out shout him or out muscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to out truth him.”
Below are some common lies of the enemy and the truth that “demolishes” them. I have listed each lie in the first person, “I,” because that is how the enemy puts them into our thoughts.
Satan’s Lie Nobody loves me.
God’s Truth For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)
Satan’s Lie I’m not able to do this job. I don’t have the right gifts.
God’s Truth Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Satan’s Lie God couldn’t love me.
God’s Truth How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (I John 3:1)
Satan’s Lie I’m so worried about this. I can’t help it.
God’s Truth Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - (Philippians 4:6)
Satan’s Lie I’m a loser.
God’s Truth I have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Satan’s Lie I can’t help myself.
God’s Truth Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
In order to win the battle for our minds, we must refuse the lies and replace them with the truth. The more we think on the truth quicker we will recognize the lies and replace them with truth.
Girlfriend, I’m proud of you for sticking with me these five days. T he Bible says “Wisdom brightens a [woman’s] face and changes its hard appearance” (Ecclesiastes 8:1 NIV). I’d say you are absolutely glowing. Stunning.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, today I am choosing to believe the truth. Help me realize the enemy’s true identity, recognize the lies, reject the lies, and replace his lies with Your truth.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
It’s seems the key to this entire process of taking every thought captive is knowing and applying the truth! So let’s commit 2 Corinthians 10:5 to memory. In this series, I quoted from several different translations. Chose the translation that is most comfortable for you and write this verse on a card. Put it on your dashboard, by your kitchen sink, or on your bathroom mirror.
See if you can name the four steps to taking every thought captive without looking.
Had to look? That’s OK.You might want to write them on the back of your 2 Corinthians 10:5 the index card.
Visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and tell me where you’re going to put your card!
More From the Girlfriends
Whew! It takes a lot of thinking to think about our thinking. Now that was confusing! If getting a grip on your thoughts and emotions is something that you would like to read more about, see Sharon’s book, I’m Not Good Enough..and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. You’ll learn how to apply God’s transforming power to your life, and you’ll find a handy reference guide of 75 common lies women believe and the truths with which to replace them.
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Originally published Wednesday, 16 May 2012.
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