Hold Your Thoughts Captive

What does it mean to hold your thoughts captive? It sounds a bit aggressive or spiritual. All it really means is "think about your thinking." In neuroscience terms, its called metacognition. It sounds 'new age' but it actually isn't.

See, around 55-56 AD, Paul actually wrote about metacognition in his second letter to the Corinthians. In chapter 10 verse 5, he says:

"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."

Neuroscience was one of my favorite classes in my senior year of college. I liked studying the brain's chemistry and learning what could make each person atypical from the norm. One blocked neural pathway and chaos can ensue.

Did you know that each time we think about something (or someone), their designated neural pathway grows larger?

I have been rewatching this animated movie from 2008 called Ponyo. It's a cute little love story about a fish that turns into a human girl because she meets a sweet little boy who piques her interest. It started with him rescuing her after she ran away from home and almost ended up on shore. He lifted her and placed her into a little green bucket with water. He swore to protect her and keep her safe.

Unfortunately, her father (a sea wizard) sent some waves to catch her and bring her back home to the sea. In their underwater castle, he questioned why she couldn't just be happy where she was; as a fish. She kept repeating "I love Sōsuke" (the little boys' name).

She had thought about him so much that she wanted to be human like him. She didn't allow her father to try and reason with her. She knew what she wanted and she would do whatever it took to be with him again. She then sprouted arms and legs and ran on top of the stormy waves of the ocean to find him.

It's sweet when its a love story. It's all warm and fuzzy and makes you giggle. But what happens when it's an uncontrollable thought about a job you want? What if it's an overbearing humiliation when you are made to feel incompetent in a classroom? How about when you don't end up with the person you thought you would? What then?

What Paul is telling us to do is practice metacognition in the hopes that it will stop us from those repetitive (or being disobedient with God). Repetitive sins like anger issues, gossiping, and lust.

When we 'think about our thinking' we are searching for the deeper meaning behind what is happening on the surface.

'Everyone annoys me' turns into ⇨ 'I'm frustrated about my money problems.', 'I can't stand my boss' turns into⇨ 'I don't like my job', and 'I miss them" might be⇨ 'I feel so lonely when I'm single.'

Paul encourages us to take second glances at our judgments and emotions so that we can learn to be vulnerable. I cannot stress enough how important it is to be vulnerable with ourselves and others. It is the catalyst for growth and change.

Paul is perhaps one of the most vulnerable people in the Bible. In every letter he writes, he mentions his past of killing Christians. How embarrassing to say you've killed the same type of people you are now writing to on a regular basis! He knows that it is important to share this information with the readers. It shows authenticity and his willingness to change.

Paul is also praised for his work in wanting change for others as well. The love he received from Christ was contagious. When he was honest with himself, he got change. And when he was honest with others, he could encourage change in them too.

Holding our thoughts captive means tracing feelings back to core beliefs. Your snark remarks on others' appearances may just be rooted in your own belief that you are not good enough. At least, that was the problem for me.

If you don't trace your thoughts and emotions back to their root, how will you know what to allow God to prune (John 15:2)?

Thank you so much for reading this blog. I encourage you to read my other posts before this one to understand what I am saying more.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Much love ♡!

－Syd