Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:3-5 (NIV)
Take Captive
What am I supposed to take captive? I want you to take very one of your thoughts and make it captive to me. I’m not even sure what that means. Can you explain that to me? Yes, I can and yes, I will. You live in the world. I get that. The world is constantly bombarding you with all its thoughts and opinions and values, is it not? That is for certain. Is every thought that the world presents to you helpful and healthy? Is every thought that comes from the world pleasing to me? Are there worldly thoughts, opinions and values that can enslave you? Enslave me, how? Can worrisome thoughts enslave you to fear? Can materialistic thoughts enslave you to greed? Can sexual thoughts enslave you to lust? Can discouraging thoughts enslave you to depression? Can doubtful thoughts enslave you to unbelief? Can comparative thoughts enslave you to envy? I have never thought of my thoughts quite like that before.
It is time for you to change your thinking about your thoughts. How so? You are not required to think about every thought that comes into your mind. You can control what you allow yourself to think. How do you want me to control my thoughts? I want you to take every one of your thoughts and make them captive and obedient to me. That sounds like a difficult and maybe even an impossible task. Taking your thoughts captive and making them obedient to me will not come without battles. But, it will not be impossible.
How do I begin? Where do I start? Where are my words? How can you know my thoughts? I can meet with you in your word. I will find your thoughts and words in your word. Yes, you will. What will happen to you as you meditate and memorize my word? I will begin to know your thoughts and words. I will come to know what is good and pleasing and acceptable to you. Yes, you will. How will your heart change and mind be transformed and your life protected as you allow my word to dwell in you richly? I will begin to think your thoughts and speak your words. Old and worldly thoughts will be pushed out of my heart and mind and life as I allow your world to dwell in me richly. Yes, that is true. I will be set free to live the life that you are calling me to live as your word begins to dwell richly in me. Yes, you will. Will you begin to take every one of your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me? Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, even though I live in this world, I will not wage war as this world does. I will take every thought and make it obedient to you. Give me your divine power to tear down and demolish strongholds and every argument that tries to set itself up against you. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.
By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved Copying not permitted www.GrowingAsDisciples.com
