Working with words has always been a lot of fun and challenge for me. I
enjoy their different sounds and meanings. I love to hunt them out in
word puzzles and use them to paint captivating pictures.
Words
are also both spoken and unspoken. The unspoken word is what we call our
thoughts. We hear them and sometimes even see their formation in the
recess of our mind. In fact speech comes first through the words of
thought which is why taking captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ is so very important.
I like this word captive. It means
to take prisoner. And a prisoner is someone who is under another's
control. When we learn to take captive every thought within our mind we
have power not only over our thoughts but also over our behaviour, for
our thoughts ultimately lead to our behaviour.
As I was thinking
of these things the other day three words slowly ambled across the
screen of my mind: stress or refresh. I was intrigued. And seeing as I
was feeling very stressed about a certain situation I paid particular
attention to their entrance. Stress or refresh. What does this mean I
wondered? I know I am feeling stressed but how can I turn this stress
into being refreshed?
I pondered this throughout the day: Stress
or refresh? It seemed obvious that it was a choice but how could I
simply de-stress? And then it struck me: take captive every thought to
make it obedient to Christ. Of course, words, my thought words needed
correction. Instead of thinking negatively I needed to dwell upon the
positive aspects of faith within my situation, which is what I began to
immediately discipline myself to do.
And I was amazed at how
quickly I felt myself beginning to de-stress as the stronghold of worry
began to crumble in the face of truth. God is able; all things work for
good in His hands; cast all your burden upon Him for He cares for you;
He is in control, He will provide. Wonderful words of truth that have
divine power to refresh our minds, our bodies, and our spirits even
amidst the most stressful of situations.
Stress or refresh? The
choice is our today.
Prayer: Father God thank you that the truth
of your word has divine power to demolish strongholds within our minds.
Encourage each of us today to take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ that we might choose to be refreshed instead of
stressed. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, B.C.
