Captivating Thoughts

CAPTIVATING THOUGHTS

“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

Recently, I have been waking up in the middle of the night with feelings of dread.  The first night it was unsettling, and I wondered what might be going on in my subconscious to lead to those feelings.  By morning, the feelings had lifted.

The second night, when I awoke with feelings of dread, I reminded myself that feelings are just feelings, and they can lie to us.  I chose to put a stop to the parade of negative thoughts by focusing on my blessings.

Each night the dread disappeared more quickly than the night before, as I was training my mind to focus on my blessings.  This morning, HALLELUJAH, the dread was gone.

The Lord does not want us to be dragged around and tormented by unconstrained thoughts.

The truth is, if we don’t take control of our thoughts, they will eventually take control of us.

Philippians 4:8 gives us wise guidelines for corralling unhealthy and joy-crushing thoughts:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” KJV

Lord, we lift our minds before You.  We offer up the anxieties and fears that sneak into our thoughts and dreams.  Father, put Your hands upon our heads.  Anoint our heads with oil.  Put an end to taunting and tormenting thoughts, anxieties and fears.  Shine light on the lies we are entertaining that steal our joy and wreck havoc on our faith. Bless us with a hunger for Your Word, so we can override lies with truth.

Reveal when we are allowing baseless feelings to take us on a punishing roller coaster ride of emotion. Then teach us how to quickly take our thoughts captive, so we will not become casualties of our own unrestrained thoughts.

Lord, we choose to count our blessings.  And we thank You for the peace that comes when we realize that every one of them comes from You.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

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