What Was I Thinking?

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 10:5

I was reading the Bible one day about people who didn’t believe what Jesus said. I thought, I believe the Bible.

In my spirit I heard, “No, you don’t.”

I countered. But Lord, I believe the virgin birth, the resurrection, that You’re God’s Son - all those things people have a hard time believing.

“You don’t believe what I say about you.”

Oh, how true! I believed them about others but not for myself. I could quickly spiral into depression and self-loathing from others’ comments, actions or looks. I had a very poor self-image - that is, until I saw myself like Jesus sees me.

Paul wrote, we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. He states it as if it’s common knowledge, something we are all doing.

I certainly wasn’t! I was believing whatever thought popped into my head or whatever feelings I felt.

I searched hungrily for verses that I didn’t really believe about myself. I wrote them, read them and compared them against my thoughts. Wow! Many of the thoughts I had believed for years didn’t line up with God’s word.

Now the real work began. Falling into old thought patterns and feelings was my default action. I had to make a concerted effort to believe the truth. God has the ability to change our thinking in a moment but for me it took time. As in other areas of my life, the more I practiced, the more skilled I became. One day I was set free.

I’m not done. I still have other areas I’m working on, but I am determined to choose life!

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20).

Terri