It’s not a snippet of scripture one considers very often:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,” says (2 Corinthians 10:5), “and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Think of it: capturing thoughts–instead of letting them capture us.
Did you ever stop to think of how we let thoughts that come winging into our minds affect us, depress us, make us anxious, distress us?
Instead of just a passing thought, they can control us. In the end, they can possess us.
It’s at the very moment of entrance that we have our best opportunity to stop that.
As soon as negative thoughts enter our minds, we should encircle them, throw a rope around them, put them in a cage, and as soon as we can (hopefully, instantly), eliminate them.
We all have the power to do that. What it takes is discipline.
Few things could be more practically advantageous during Lent than training ourselves to do this.
The more we do it, the more it becomes second nature.
And the happier and more fulfilled we are.
Take wrong thoughts to the confessional.
Past failures? Capture the memory and toss it into a mental dustbin. The temptation for a bad habit? A sinful wondering of any sort? A false suspicion?
Instead of sulking and shrinking under the weight of an oppressive cerebration, we’re called and instructed to rise above it.
Easier said than done?
Sometimes.
But really, it’s largely a matter of practice. It’s a matter of simply remembering to do it.
Along with our subconscious, negativity flows from the domain of darkness. And we don’t want to be its slave of the dark. We don’t want ourselves to be what is captured.
See bars or a fence or a circle or whatever surround a negative, nettlesome, or worrisome thought every time it wings to mind and it will evaporate of its own accord.
Recognizing thoughts–taking note of each, every time they enter–is critical in the tests of life. This goes far in improving our holiness and lives.
[Books of Inspiration and Devotion]
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