captivity Archives - Mandy and Michele

New Thoughts Captured my Attention

This morning, as I was enjoying quiet time in Jeremiah 29:1-14, some phrases captured my attention in a startling way. I was blown away at the revelation that came to me as I read Jeremiah 29:5-7 (NLT).

“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the fruit you produce. Marry, and have children. Then find spouses for them, and have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you.”

Jeremiah 29:5-7

Suddenly, this thought hit me:

Held Captive

Sometimes, we come to a difficult place in life and we feel as if we are held captive in it. A serious illness, the death of a spouse, the end of a job, a career change, relocation, . . . the list is vast. Life happens. Many times what happens is out of our control, but it is NEVER out of God’s hands!

Handling Captivity

When life throws a curveball, it is too easy to become paralyzed, bitter, depressed, even frantic. God, however, says “Live life!” Re-read those verses. The Lord told His people to carry on with life, not to just sit or dwindle away. Keep reading, because the Lord also said,

“Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive.”

Hmmmm……. PRAY?

Pray for the company, the school, the country, the family…. whatever your “Babylon” is. When we offer up whatever has us down to the Lord, He can take that situation into His hands and deliver us from it.
Remember this, though: God moves in His time and way. The solution to your dilemma may take time, but He does have the solution.

That familiar promise will come to fruition:

“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not harm you…”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

This is the clincher:

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,…and will bring you back from captivity.”

Jeremiah 29:12-14 NIV

Take every thought captive. Seek the Lord and His direction. Pray for the place where you are, that place that has you stuck. Know that the Lord has a plan, and he will bring you out better than before!

It is time to put all of these crazy, negative thoughts into captivity where they belong! Let’s put’em in jail.

Easy to say, isn’t it?

How do we actually do it?

He was 16 then and I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep and just as the scoundrel does, he put a horrid image and thought inside my head. Oh, I knew it came from the devil and I instantly rebuked him in Jesus’ Name and suddenly it was as though someone had changed the channel in my brain, warmth and peace overcame me.

Take that, devil.

Today that 16-year old is 40 and is as normal as any man can be!

Take that too, devil.

Crazy, negative thoughts have got to be captured and put inside a cell. They can overtake us and bring anxiety, fear, stress, and oppression to name a few.

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12.25 (NLT)

Let’s look at 2 Corinthian 10 and find out what Paul is talking about!

take every thought captive — image by Susan Shipe

The church at Corinth was in criticize mode against the Apostle. They were challenging his authority and he rebuked those with impure motives seeking to undermine his ministry. He simply tells them…(all scripture in Susan Translation)

We might walk as humans walk but we do not battle as humans battle. 2 Corinthians 10.3
Our weapons are not those of humans but are mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds and arguments and every other thing that raises itself up against the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 10.4-5a
The mighty weapons IN GOD are available to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10.5b

So, when the enemy comes in and says to me, “Susan, your son is going to be blank and blank.”

I can say to him, “Satan, I might look human but I don’t fight like a human because I carry the weapons, the mighty weapons, of Almighty God and I throw your accusations and threats and lies into jail!”

Then, follow up with a declaration, “Satan, my son is the righteousness of Christ. He is an oak of righteousness. He walks in the newness of life and God’s hand is on him for all eternity.”

When Satan comes in with thoughts of fear, tell him…

I am not afraid. God will never leave me nor forsake me. Deuteronomy 31.8; God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1.7

When Satan comes in and tries to steal your peace, tell him…

God will keep me in peace because my thoughts are set on Him. Isaiah 26.3; I am going to throw all my anxieties onto God because He cares for me. 1 Peter 5.7

When Satan comes in and tries to make you worried about things, tell him…

You know what devil? I am not going to worry about that because God is so good that He even takes care of the birds. And He makes the flowers beautiful and He cares about me and all the things that concern me. Matthew 6; The things that concern me, concern Him. Psalm 138.8

When Satan comes in and tries to cause you to stress and have anxious thoughts, tell him…

I am not going to be anxious because I can tell my heavenly Father about it. Philippians 4.6; Ya know what Satan? God is going to crush you under his feet and I am covered by the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Romans 16.20

A Scripture for EVERY Thought

I can assure you there is a scripture for every thought that comes against us. You can Google any thought for a scripture to combat it. But we have to take the initiative. We have to be pro-active. Sometimes something is so serious and hard that we are told to fast and pray about it, here.

THE.WORD.WORKS.
USE.IT
BELIEVE.IT.
STAKE.YOUR.LIFE.ON.IT.
FIGHT THE ENEMY WITH HIS MOST FEARED WEAPON – THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, THE LIVING WORD OF GOD.

Fight the Enemy with his Most Feared Weapon – The Sword of the Spirit, The Living Word of God. #anxiety #worry #fear # Click To Tweet

Let’s take every thought captive.

Throw those things that are thrown against us, to steal our joy and peace, right into a prison cell and lock the door and throw away the key. We have the power and weaponry.