DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
Most struggles we face are inner ones. The outward battles are normally a result of deep, inner conflicts that have been built over a lifetime. If we are to truly experience victory over bad habits and wrong patterns of actions, we must learn to undergo a transformation of our thoughts and feelings. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Paul was speaking of the spiritual battle every Christian faces. He understood life’s greatest conflicts are spiritual, and that the battleground is often our mind. Before a person comes to know Christ, the Bible says that he is a captive or slave to sin. Our entire outlook is built on attitudes and thought patterns contrary to God’s plan. We spend years building those patterns. When we come to know Christ, that doesn’t mean we no longer have to deal with wrong thought patterns. It simply means we’re no longer their slaves.
But we must learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” I grew up in a home where I experienced a lot of negativism. My mother was very critical. There’s a fine line between a critical spirit and an analytical spirit. A critical spirit analyzes each situation and condemns. But an analytical spirit can discern right from wrong and find an appropriate means to do the right thing. Over many years, I turned a God-given analytical spirit into a self-centered critical spirit. My first line of thought about anyone or any action was always negative.
When Christ came into my life, He set me free from such a critical spirit. I was no longer enslaved to such thinking. But I had not built a negative spirit within my heart in one moment. I had built that pattern of thinking over a lifetime. So I needed to learn to tear down that stronghold, brick by brick. Every day, I needed to take every negative thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
When I awaken every morning, my “natural” way of thinking is negative. So I take time alone with God to ask Him to capture my every thought. Through prayer, I bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I ask God to fill me with thoughts that are pleasing to Him. The more regularly I bring my thought patterns under Christ’s rule, the quicker that stronghold in my life is torn down.
Once that stronghold is demolished, it doesn’t mean I am no longer tempted in that area. It simply means that Satan no longer has a foothold there. I don’t have to be naturally negative. I can be a supernaturally positive. No matter what comes my way, I have been given everything I need to overwhelmingly conquer any pattern of thought contrary to the character and ways of God.
Each of us can experience victory over wrong thought patterns. God has given you weapons of spiritual warfare to overcome Satan’s strongholds in your life. Begin today to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians : Chapter 10
1) By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2) I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6) And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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