Capture Your Thoughts Before They Capture You

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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7.

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 94:19.

Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7.

“I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts.” Isaiah 65:2

Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you? Jeremiah 4:14.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4.

Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:

Why do you let yourself be tormented by mean, judgmental, anxious, fearful, and defeated thoughts? You may not know this and have not applied it, but you control what you dwell upon in your thoughts. And I have advised you numerous times to examine, direct, and capture your thoughts before they take you captive and drive you.

By inspiration of the Spirit, My servant Paul told you the formula for a healthy thought life that will make your life one of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, where you can hear from Me and know the way to go: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7. There is a reason My Son told you that you must become as little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is about relationship. I created you in My image and likeness as My children, My family. I am your Father and you are to cast all your cares on Me because I care for you. And that is humility, knowing you cannot do great things on your own strength and wisdom, that it takes Me to give you Mine. A little child knows that he is not his own source but it does not bother him, instead, it gives him a care-free life. A little child with a good father has no fear of lack or harm. That child knows all he has to do is ask Daddy for what he wants and it will be done according to his request. A child looks to his future with hope and joyful expectation—it is all about celebrations such as birthdays, family outings, graduations, visits, vacations, learning new things and family fellowship. See yourself in relationship with Me as your loving Father who cannot do enough to see to your comfort, joy, good health, and a bright future—even to sending My Son to die in your place so you would not receive the punishment of death for your sins. And be like a child and daydream about your future, seeing yourself doing extraordinary things that bless the whole world. That is meditation on My Word, for I have promised you that your life will be fruitful when you attach to Me and that you will bless every nation on earth.

And after that passage of advice from Paul, I go on to even direct you what to think about: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8. Instead of seeing yourself broke and infirm in your old age, see yourself strong and vigorous like Moses, leading people to freedom in Me. See yourself as a leader, an innovator, a person that is able to solve problems for others and give them a life beyond their wildest dreams. And this applies not only to yourself but others. Do not keep rehearsing in your mind the evil you see in your family and friends, stop saying to yourself how disgusting they are and believing the worst about their motives, instead begin to see and declare them in your own thoughts and conversations within yourself as the people I made them to be—begin to see them at a new level that they are not at now, have the faith for them to become that and that vision will become a reality if you do not give up but stand on it! See them as a new creation in Christ, see them strong and free instead of addicted, see them devoted to My Word and not seeking the words of the world, the flesh and the devil, see them as people of prayer and good works! Imagine and declare their future, instead of predicting a dire outcome to them if they keep on the path they are on now. They cannot change because Satan has blinded their minds, but you can take up the good fight of faith on their behalf and move a mountain! Stop rehearsing the scolding you are going to give them in judgmental criticism of their evil behavior and instead start seeing them in a new light, the light of My love, and that light will go to work on them like a pico-laser, dividing between the thoughts and motives of the heart. Things that they found attractive will suddenly no longer draw them, instead they will disgust them. Give Me the authority by imagining a new them and speaking it out to yourself and at the proper time, to them. You can tell all that the wages of sin is death but there is a way out of that! The free gift of eternal life in My Son and the power of My Word to cleanse, heal, and set free!

You may ask, “Is it possible to direct my thoughts in this way? It seems they tend to default to negative criticism and despair.” But My answer is that all things are possible to him who believes, but I want to settle with you that I never direct you to do anything I do not give you the grace, ability and knowledge to do. Furthermore, people like you have done this with wonderful results all through the history of salvation. Think of Joseph, Daniel, and so many others. But look at the man who wrote these things, a man like you, that is, My apostle Paul, for he continued this passage as follows: “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9. Paul controlled his thoughts and words to a very high degree. And after telling you this, in this same letter and in this very chapter, he tells you he has learned to the secret to being content in every circumstance he is in—whether he is in luxury or in lack, whether he is free or in prison for preaching the Gospel, whether people are for him or against him. He just does all he does with Me, for Me and in Me and knows that I will deliver him, provide for him, and bless him—make all things work for his good so he always comes out of any situation victorious with Me. Why? He learned to control his thoughts to direct them to the good outcome and never defeat. He lived on the victory side. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Paul had opportunities for negative and defeated thinking. He had opportunities for offense and anger at those who were once his friends, who now were plotting to kill him. But these things did not move him, for he knew Me, in whom he believed, and that I would deliver him out of them all and reward him for all the assignments he did for Me with love. He was proactive. He did not shadow box but went for the jugular vein. He kept himself in line first, lest he, who preached salvation to others, would himself be lost.

If you are not proactive to control your thoughts, the devil and his demons will fill your mind with fear-filled thoughts and hateful thoughts which ruin your future and the future of those who you direct them to if they do not know Me. The devil will manipulate your worldly circumstances, since he has authority through Adam and men who allow him on the earth, and give you fearful and offended thoughts. He will lead you into helpless depression and cause you to give up and not fight. And if you take on his fear-filled thoughts, and instead of knocking them down with My Words of faith, what you fear will come to pass, just like happened to Job until he changed his thoughts and words. Instead, fill your mind with good things that I say and this will create an irresistible force of faith that will draw those things out of Me and direct them into your life.

Proactive meditation of the good things I have for you in the morning when you rise will make you excited about the day. See yourself healed, blessed, prosperous and doing the works of the Kingdom. See yourself witnessing to others and sharing your faith. See yourself blessing your family, neighbors and friends. See yourself doing good things at your work and getting new and creative ideas and inventions. Whatever I have spoken to you about your assignments and ministry—see these things as done and complete. And the wonderful thing is that then they will come to pass and that before too many days are passed, for the time is short.  Make the most of your time, redeem the time.

When trouble comes there are two kinds of cries- there is the “boo-hoo” cry that will only get you a box of Kleenex, and there is the battle cry that will draw My armor onto you and equip you to fight! I train your hands for battle and your fingers for war! Spiritual warfare! One cry you are defeated before you start. The other cry you have victory before you start. You choose. Death and life are in the power of your tongue, and the mouth speaks what fills the heart.

I love you. Watch your thoughts and watch your words. You can and if you do not your inner business will get out of control. Think of your thoughts as employees of your inner business and take assessment of their performance. Get rid of the ones who are tormenting you and destroying your life. And, above all, employ wisdom and understanding. Bind these around your neck and never let them even take a day off. Wisdom is the principal thing, so above all, get wisdom and with wisdom, get understanding. Wisdom, understanding, joy and peace are the best employees you can hire. Dwell on these things.