“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book, “Who Switched Off My Brain?” says, “If your thought life is toxic, you have toxic memories physically built into the magic trees of your mind, and the chemicals that accompany those toxic thoughts are coursing through your body in a myriad of feedback loops. Instead of a symphony of harmonious thoughts and feelings, toxic thoughts create a cacophony in your body – music that flows like toxic waste and produces stress responses in your body. Granted, the long term effects may take years, but along the way, you will suffer nagging illnesses, aches and pains.”
Toxic stressors are activated by fear, so:
“Fear is the root of all stress.”
Research shows that fear triggers more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters!
“That is a gloomy prediction but the dangers are real. Fortunately, there is light on this dark horizon. Your brain may come close to complete destruction under the burden of years of toxic waste but it can start to recover in as little as four days. All you have to do is learn to control your thoughts.”
Is it possible to get to the place where our first response; is to “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?” This is my most recent “life verse.” Some where along the way, we must acknowledge that our thought life, how we think about every detail of life, affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
If you hang onto anger and bitterness; as well as past hurts and disappointments; you will become an angry, bitter person. You will trust no one and your relationships will be only surface relationships. You will not become the person God created you to be nor will you exhibit the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, meant to be exhibited by Christians.
So when you tear down the toxic thoughts Satan gladly brings in your mind; take those thoughts captive. Arrest them. Throw them in jail and then replace those thoughts with what God says about you. These truths come straight from His Word. “I belong to Christ.” “I am a new creation.” “Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” “The Lord loves me with an everlasting love and underneath me are His everlasting arms.” “He is for me and not against me.” “My name is written in the palm of His hands. God is not a God of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Prayer in Motion:
Lord Jesus, help me to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I want my mind to be set on things above and think on whatsoever is pure and lovely. I love you and long to be pleasing to You, not only in my words and deeds, but in my thought life. In Jesus Name. Amen
If you would like prayer, I would be honored to pray for you. Please call me at 704-965-6875 or e-mail me at teapottilly@gmail.com.
