Do you find yourself dwelling on the thing someone said that hurt your feelings, and how you wish you would’ve responded? And you obsessively revise the script in your mind. Or do you fixate on the lineup mistake that cost you the fantasy football win?

I am often guilty of getting things stuck in my head, but take heart; there is a cure.

Taking Thoughts Captive: Beyond Sunday Sermon Theory

The Apostle Paul offers the solution to self-centered obsessiveness in 2 Corinthians 10:5:

“…take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

“ But how,” you ask. How do you take every thought captive to Jesus Christ? It sounds like nice sermon talk, but how do you transform Paul’s instructions into a usable practice?

Consider Paul’s words, “take every thought captive.” When was the last time you took someone captive? Hopefully never, but there would be resistance, right? A fight, a throw of hands, some scratching, kicking, eye-gouging, finger-twisting, fat-pinching. Maybe a bit of spilled blood in the process.

The Guerrilla Warfare of Self-Centered Thoughts

Our self-indulgent thoughts are even worse because we can never completely lock them away. The slippery little tyrants cut themselves loose, sneak-attacking us at every corner, minute by minute, or patiently waiting at the backdoor until we let them in.

The first step to winning the battle in your mind is realizing a vicious enemy is waging a battle in your mind. Peter said it well,

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

Suiting Up: Your Divine Armor

The second step is understanding that soldiers don’t go to war unarmed. Paul warns us, telling us we need to be fully prepared for battle,

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11.

He repeats himself in v13,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Do we live in evil times? Paul says that to stand firm, we must be decked out head to toe in the “ whole armor of God. “ We can’t leave any part of our bodies exposed.

The belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness. The gospel of peace for our shoes. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Psalm 23: The Right Weapon for This War

How do we arm ourselves for battle with the Word of God? By memorizing Scripture and replacing our thoughts with His Word.

But, it’s a practice that must be practiced because egocentrism is a hard habit to break. Our sinful nature, driven by pride, always finds its way back to the problem — self.

To combat the defeatist soundtrack that auto-plays in my mind, I set out to memorize Psalm 23 last year because David’s words are the appropriate weapon for the situation.

“He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”

Yes, that’s what I need. All of God’s Word is helpful, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Yet, applying the right Word at the right time yields the best result. A deer hunter uses a rifle or shotgun, not a paintball gun.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Yes, this is the precise ammo needed to “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16.

Daily Battle Tactics: Making Scripture Your Defense

Memorizing Psalm 23 is one of the best spiritual practices I’ve ever adopted. I pull this Sword out daily to kick the devil out of my mind and to refocus. It’s my morning prayer, the last thought when my head hits the pillow, and many times in between.

In an upcoming blog post, I will elaborate on this amazing Psalm and how much it has helped and taught me.

In the meantime, thoughtfully consider your battles. Do you struggle with fear? Do a Google search, “Bible verses about fear,” and you will get websites with 40 verses about fear. Pick a couple of verses that encourage you and write them down. Memorize them and attach sticky notes to your computer, bathroom mirror, and car dashboard.

If you need a head start, I compiled a list of Scriptures that have helped me along the way.

It’s spiritual warfare. Arm yourself.

PS. Take a look at how you can personalize Psalm 23 and make it your own.

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