‘They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.’ Proverbs 23:7(NLT)
‘And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ‘ Philippians 4:8(NLT)
‘We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ‘ 2 Corinthians 10:5(NLT)
Most of us have heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” In a similar way, the Bible tells us we are what we think. Thoughts are the seed that we use to create our God-given destinies.
Our imagination is a powerful tool, but pointed in the wrong direction, we perish. Without vision and divine guidance we succumb to the giants in our lives. The devil knows how important our imagination is. That’s why he took one of the greatest weapons we have and perverted it into his counterfeit version—fantasy.
He may dilute your vision by causing you to obsess over romance and engage in mind affairs. He may steer you in the wrong direction by filling your mind with defeating thoughts of shame and unworthiness. If that’s you, it’s time to take your thoughts captive.
Replacing our thoughts takes determination. A number of years ago the National Science Foundation estimated that our brains produce as many as 50,000 thoughts per day. While the majority of them are the same as the day before, many experts agree that about two-thirds of them are negative thoughts. If we want to change our thoughts and eliminate negative repeat offenders, it will require discipline, focus, and determination.
When a police officer plans an arrest, she first has to plan a strategy for the stakeout. Once she apprehends the offender, she handcuffs him and locks him up. A lot of force is involved. It’s a hostile situation. In the same way, it requires force to apprehend our thoughts.
Taking our thoughts captive is difficult in the beginning, but when we bring our imagination into alignment with His truth, an incredible thing happens. As we think, we become. And not only will we feel better about ourselves, but others will begin to treat us different. What we believe about ourselves is contagious.
Empowered women know they will go in the direction of their most prominent thoughts. They understand that their thoughts create what they become so they’re careful what they think. Likewise, God wants you to imagine truths that produce success for your life, not defeat. When you discipline your mind to see the victory in your spirit before it manifests, you develop a champion mentality and position yourself for a victorious life. So focus on the things God has revealed to you. Use your imagination to see life through His eyes and watch His goodness unfold.
from Love Junkies: Break The Toxic Relationship Cycle by Christy Johnson