Yesterday, while reading my Bible, I came across this devotional in a app I have on my cell phone. It strikes my soul that while we are not able to take captive every single thought in every situation of every day, we can learn to take one thought captive, and when choosing so, that one choice affects every other thought to come.
We tend to think we have to conquer the whole mountain, all at once — it’s all or nothing. Yet so often we find ourselves crumbling under its weight and before “it” labels us “failure” we declare ourselves “failure” because it’s safer that way, isn’t it?
- God never asked us to conquer the whole mountain by ourself; all at once.
- God never asked us to go it alone; that some how the ‘lone–Christian’ is acceptable.
- God asks we take one thought captive. One! It sure is better than conquering the whole mountain at once.
- He leaves the choice up to us.
- We can glorify God with that one choice, then repeat, or…
- we could not and suffer the consequences.
- One thought captive at a time.
- One step of His will at a time.
- One step of faith at a time.
- He leaves the choice up to us.
After I finished reading this devotional light bulbs were bursting off in my head, my heart was inflamed with God’s Truth’s — YES! and encouragement filled my soul. I make it harder than it needs to be, but indeed, I must choose, and in each single choice creates all the difference in the world — either way you decide.
I am posting this because I hope it is that some challenge and encouragement to your soul as it was to mine. I pray in ignites your soul to choose well. We are already victors, it is time we live like it.
The below devotional was written by Jeannie Allen from “Get Out of Your Head”.
We Have a Choice
How we think directly affects how we live. This may sound terrifying, but, in fact, it’s exciting. Because while we may not be able to take every thought captive in every situation we face every day, we can learn to take one thought captive and, in doing so, affect every other thought to come. So what is the one thought that can successfully interrupt every negative thought pattern?
It’s this: I have a choice.
- When we’re spiraling in noise or distractedness, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through stillness.
- When we’re spiraling in isolation, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through community.
- When we’re spiraling in anxiety, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through trust in His good and sovereign purposes.
- When we’re spiraling in cynicism, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through worship.
- When we’re spiraling in self-importance, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through humility.
- When we’re spiraling into victimhood, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through gratitude.
- When we’re spiraling in complacency, we have a choice to shift our minds back to God through serving Him and others.
If you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you have a God-given, God-empowered, God-redeemed ability to choose what you think about.
- You have a choice regarding where you focus your energy.
- You have a choice regarding what you live for.
- You are not subject to your behaviors, genes, or circumstances.
- You are not subject to your passions, lusts, or emotions.
- You are not subject to your thoughts.
No fixation exists outside God’s long-armed reach. Because we are a “new creation,” we have a choice.
- When we think new thoughts, we physically alter our brains.
- When we think new thoughts, we make healthier neural connections.
- When we think new thoughts, we blaze new trails.
- When we think new thoughts, everything changes.
“God, I choose today to take every thought captive because I know You are more powerful than my thoughts, my circumstances, and my fears. Thank You for making me a new creation so that I can choose You! Amen.”
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
In Christ I am SHE 