I recently shared a story about one of the things I would do when I was angry or frustrated as a teenager. I would ask one of my brothers to go with me to the playground of our neighborhood school. We would take a baseball and bat with us. I would have him pitch the ball to me and I would just hit it as hard as I could. We would do this over and over until the thoughts that had been bothering me no longer bothered me.
Back then I knew what, rather who I was angry with and what incidents caused me to feel this way.
Now that I am older, here is what I realize about what affected my emotions:
My thoughts about a recent incident.
My choice to dwell on those thoughts, repeatedly replaying that hurt/frustration in my mind.
Pastor Tom Dillingham often reminds us to take our thoughts captive. We really do need to apply this in our lives daily, maybe even hourly for some of us. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (AMP) tells us “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ”. Here we see more than just taking our thoughts captive, but also the purpose – the reason it was created, why it exists, and in some cases the thought that caused us to do something.
In taking a thought captive you can examine it and determine if the thought was created out of hurt, anger, happiness, or joy. Did the thought come from God, the enemy, or myself? Examine it to the Word and if it doesn’t line up, toss it out and be done with it. Do not dwell on it. If you’re not sure how to do this, try meditating on Psalm 139:23-24 Search me [thoroughly], O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any wicked or hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. Ask God to help you and He will. Another way to help with this is to have someone in your life who you trust, who you can talk to about the thoughts and things going on in your life, ideally someone who is walking with God and will not tell everyone else what you have shared with her/him.
Our thoughts effect more than just us, they also effect those around us because they do slip out in our words and actions. As I pointed out earlier one of the things that caused me frustration and hurt was my choice to dwell on the thought(s). I had and still have the choice to exercise control over the thoughts that enter my mind. Taking your thoughts captive requires a continual effort and dedication for your well being, and in some cases can protect you from being hurt or angry. I encourage you to read the Bible daily, pray daily, and if need be find that Godly friend to help you in your journey.
