Willowdale Women

Taking Every Thought Captive

By Danielle Kuhn

Have you ever experienced an intrusive thought? One that comes out of left field and leaves you wondering where it came from? I sure have. I’ve experienced a litany of intrusive and unwelcome thoughts – some that seriously had me questioning my sanity! Intrusive thoughts, as defined by the American Psychological Association, are mental events that interrupt the flow of task-related thoughts in spite of efforts to avoid them. The more I tried to control my thoughts, the more I felt like they controlled me. My thoughts did not feel like my own.

Minor intrusions are normal and very common. Unwanted intrusive thoughts, however, can cause a great deal of anxiety. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America explains that the content of unwanted intrusive thoughts often focuses on sexual or violent or socially unacceptable images. The thoughts popping into my head were inappropriate, unsettling, scary and bizarre. I wouldn’t dare share these thoughts with anyone for fear of judgement and shame. Some of these thoughts became intense fears leading me to experience anxiety and panic. I felt trapped. I needed a professional to help me break the cycle.

In one of my counseling sessions I learned to:

1. Relabel – “this is an intrusive thought; it is not true”

2. Reattribute – “this is not me, it’s my brain sending me a false message”

3. Refocus – on doing something else

4. Revalue – “that’s just my brain, no need to pay attention to it”

Two “R’s” I like to add to this list are:

1. Replace lies with truth from scripture

2. Renew the mind through the reading of God’s Word

Thoughts are just that – thoughts. Sure, some of our thoughts are true but others are absolute garbage. We don’t have to believe everything we think. We can filter our thoughts through the word of the Lord. What is real and true?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

About a year after that counseling session, God used me to lead a women’s small group through Jennie Allen’s book Get Out of Your Head, Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts. Yes, you read that correctly. God used me, the one struggling with toxic thoughts to lead the study. God has a sense of humor, doesn’t He? A sweet reminder that He is our strength in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)! Through the study, we learned to fight our thoughts by taking them captive. Here’s an example:

1. Grab the thought – what is it? “I’m not good enough”

2. Diagnose the thought – is it true? “No!”

3. Take it to God – what does God say about it?

   • Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

   • 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

   • Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

4. Make a choice – Am I going to believe God? “Yes!”

• John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Taking our thoughts captive is a daily battle. It’s easy to find our minds clouded with fear, worry and anxiety. It’s hard to share these concerns with others in a world where the automatic response to “how are you/things?” has become “good/everything’s fine!”. The enemy wants us to stay in our heads, in isolation, not bothering anyone with our troubles. But we were not meant to do this life alone; we were created for connection and community. As I confided in a few trusted friends, they joined me in my battle by praying with me and reminding me of scriptural truths. Who is in your inner circle? The friends that you can let down your guard with and be completely transparent and vulnerable with? These are your battle buddies and fellow comrades who will stand with you no matter what.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Sometimes we’ll feel like we lost the fight, but remember, Christ has already won the war (John 16:33). And He has given us every weapon available to get back up and keep fighting! We have the armor of God available to us day and night (Ephesians 6:10-20) – the belt of truth, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit and Word of God, and prayer! With the Holy Spirit, we even have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)! Through Christ, counseling and community, it is possible to break every chain. I’m living proof! Praise the Lord!

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.