6 Ways To Capture Your Thoughts
Science reveals that God created our brains with the ability to change. With the discovery of Neuroplasticity in 1948, scientists learned that our brains can form and reorganize pathways in response to learning or experiencing life. As our experiences and understanding change, our thoughts change.
With this knowledge, we can be encouraged when we read Apostle Paul’s instruction to take our thoughts captive and hold them up to the truth of God’s word. (2 Corinthians 10:5 “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.”)
Here are 6 ways that you can take your intrusive thoughts captive:
Think through and process your thoughts. Determine whether they are true or false beliefs. Investigate where the thought originated. Is it based on a feeling or fact?
Accept responsibility to do this work. Be intentional about controlling your thoughts and not letting your thoughts control you.
Commit to changing your mind, not only your behavior. A behavior change (a new habit) can be short-lived if your mindset doesn’t change.
Take disabling thoughts captive through confession. Verbally express them, discuss them with a friend or a counselor, or jot them down in a journal to bring them to your conscious awareness. This practice will help create new pathways in your brain and replace the old default thought patterns. (Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.”)
Choose to focus your thoughts on what is good. (Philippians 4:8 “Think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.”)
Believe it is possible to take your thoughts captive and choose good over evil through the power of the Holy Spirit. (James 1:6 “You must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”)
