Many think to “take your thoughts captive” means to NOT think about it. But to take your thoughts captive means to captivate your eyes to it and to spend time comparing it with the Word and then toss it out if it doesn’t line up!
Captive means “to hold or to secure” for a moment. Take it as an opportunity to detect what the thought is beneath that initial thought and address it.
For example, a fearful thought comes up regarding an unexpected bill or a medical diagnosis. Many would feel guilty for even thinking something fearful and immediately try to push it out of their mind and not give it any air time. They think that means they are “in faith” when in reality they are in denial of something that is coming up for them.
While it is right to take it captive, there’s an important step missed by many and I think it is an area where many people could benefit from more understanding.
Our bodies are created with internal sensors, emotions that arise, but they haven’t come out of nowhere. They are a normal part of our human existence and must be given some consideration.
Jesus didn’t just ignore His emotions, He allowed them, BUT He was NOT ruled by them. I think we’re afraid to allow them. There’s a difference.
So, if a thought comes up that seems fearful, pause and see it just like you would an indicator light on your dashboard in your car. That indicator knows something internally that you may not be aware of. There’s no shame in a light alerting you that your car is low on oil or gas or that the tire pressure is not balanced, right? But it is a mechanism that allows you to address an issue, not to ignore it.
When a fearful or lacking thought shows up, without shame, ask yourself what it is really telling you. Be honest with what you are truly feeling, not what you think you “should” be feeling as a person of faith. Then address it with what you know the Word says about you, about what God has provided for your physical needs, declare God’s actual Word over the situation; meaning find scripture that covers your case-this is why it’s important to know the Word.
Most believers do not have an accurate, working knowledge of God’s Word…hint, always look first and foremost to the New Testament because it is our New Covenant based our redemption and better promises than the old.
Don’t just say, “Well, what about Job?”
Oh, it pains my heart every time I hear someone ask that.
Because it accuses God of something He is not.
That is a question the enemy has used for centuries to keep God’s people bound.
And, it also takes away the responsibility of a New Testament believer to actually dig into the New Covenant and find out EVERYTHING Jesus provided for us at the cross!
Job didn’t have Jesus!
The time had not yet come.
God did not have the same type of relationship with Job that He legally has with us now.
But Job did speak of how wonderful it would be for there to be a man who could stand in the gap between God and man. He was speaking prophetically of JESUS! (Job 9:32,33)
But Jesus Himself answered this question when He told us in John 10:10 that it is the THIEF (Satan) who comes to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY but that Jesus came to give us LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY.
If a situation in your life has stolen something or someone from you, caused death or destruction, you can be assured that God had NOTHING to do with it!
And don’t align your faith to that by speaking words to that effect.
You don’t want to use your words to come into agreement with the enemy.
So, we must make an effort to discover what God says about our situation, speak His exact Words and then line our remaining words up with His Words.
For He loves to hear His children speak His Words because it allows His power access into our situations.
For example if you need healing, go to the New Testament first and find what God’s Word says about it. In 1 Peter 2:24 it clearly says that “by His stripes you WERE healed” and in Romans 8:11 “if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in YOU, it will quicken your mortal body”.
Write those words of truth down and declare them every day when you get a negative diagnosis or if you feel pain in your body. Then line your own words up with that TRUTH and do not look to what you SEE or what you FEEL, but bring your words into line with God’s Word and say, “Thank You, Lord, Your power is working mightily in me, driving out all pain and symptoms, sickness and disease, and I will do all You’ve called me to do, no longer hindered, in Jesus’ name, Amen!”
If you can’t say you believe those Words, that’s honesty. Just keep declaring it, because we don’t get more faith by asking for it or by praying “Lord, give me more faith.” “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10:17) so you don’t need more praying, you need more HEARING! Amen? ~Be Blessed, Jenny xoxo
~JENNY RIEFLIN MINISTRIES~ 