Taking Captivity Captive

" " 'As for you my son Solomon know the God of your father and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him , He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.'
I Chron. 28:9

As I sat there this morning my thoughts wandered. Thinking on the intent of my thoughts..as Your word put it. And so, I am reminded of how many times I set my marriage up for failure before my husband and I split up. I remember thinking how could this have happened?? I thought I was so close to the Lord. I was going to church, waking up early reading the bible, praying, trying to stay in my marriage. How could I have let the enemy come creeping in? How could I go from Jesus freak one day to the backsliden adulterer the next? How was it possible?

Then I remembered..(as You would obviously have me do) my thoughts. I remember how I would think things like..."If Brent and I were not together, would I be with someone else? If so, who? Would it be one of my old friends? Or someone new? Maybe it would be someone in the church! " or I would think things like "I know I could find someone to treat me better than this! Why are you staying here? Leave!! You never stayed with any other drama like this, why stay now?"

And now after recovering from the err of my ways and by the grace of God being reunited with my husband( who loves me so much only God knows how :)...I see where I set myself up for failure time and time again.

By even entertaining such thoughts I was first of all sinning allowing the enemy to have a foothold in my life (his playground is after all the mind) and second of all not taking the authority that Jesus Christ gave me. After all we are supposed to ..'cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.' -II Cor. 10:5-

So, casting down arguments and every high thing--so things(hateful thoughts, prideful thoughts, self righteousness etc.) that exalt themselves against what Your words say. (i.e., love others as yourself, do not strike out in anger, pray for your enemies, don't point at the speck in someone else's eye when you have a plank in yours etc.etc.)
Don't just think those thoughts speak the truth against them...taking them captive, holding power and authority over them by Christ's words....my thoughts have to obey Christ-if I demand it of them.

And we are able to do this because, 'the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds.' -II Cor. 10:4-


Strongholds: place or means of protection or refuge. satan's power.


So, our weapons are mighty in God for pulling down any means of protection for the enemy, or any place of refuge for the enemy. He has no place to hide and no place to take refuge when we use the weapons of warfare.
Which are...found in Eph. 6. But basically it can all be summed up in You...following You and Your words. What do they say about my life? Those are the things I need to proclaim over my life and my thoughts. And if my thoughts don't align with Your words, then they have no place in my head and I have the right, and authority to say so.

Thank You Lord, for Your constant direction, and protection and sweet, sweet revelation!

And