Why is it so important to "take every thought captive?” What do we do with those captive thoughts? 503s - 10 - 3

According to Nancy, “Our thoughts stir up our emotions; our emotions then influence our desires; and our desires produce our actions. This is why it’s so important to take every thought captive, because then we can stop the chain reaction before it even begins.”

2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Great words to live by

So first is our thoughts that stir up emotions which leads to our desires and ultimately our actions. In my opinion, there is one step proceeding our thoughts, what we allow ourselves to take in visually. The eye is the portal used by Satan and often a visual will serve as a stimulus for thought. Satan and his minions must be giving at the epidemic of online pornography a standing ovation.

Dennis Prager with his Prager University produces many very informative and pithy videos that are approximately five minutes long. This video, “The One Thought You Should Never Have, ” is very applicable to this discussion question.      

“There is only one Commandment that prohibits a thought, and it is this: "Do not covet." Why does the Bible, which is preoccupied with behavior, legislate a thought? Because to covet, to want what belongs to someone else, is the root of the preceding four commandments and often leads to evil. Before someone murders, steals, lies, or commits adultery, the desire to take what is rightly someone else's usually comes first.”

https://www.prageruniversity.com/Ten-Commandments/Do-Not-Covet.html#.VIpRfL5dKFY

Deuteronomy 5:21, “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet (H183) thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

H183 - A primitive root; to wish for: - covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).

I have often stated that we have control over two things, who we choose to associate with and our thoughts. One disclaimer, it is far easier to control our thoughts when we are awake then when asleep, at least in my case. One method I use to keep my thoughts stayed on God is to listen to praise and worship music throughout the night. When negative and/or disruptive thoughts penetrate my mental filer, I give them to God.