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)
Controlling our thoughts is not for the weak or fainthearted. It takes intentionality and determination. True, we can’t prevent every negative or evil thought from entering our minds. In our culture, we are constantly bombarded by ungodly, unwholesome words and images. But the apostle Paul says we are not helpless.
We have to take the offensive. As arguments and pretensions that oppose God enter our minds, we are told to demolish these arguments. How? We are to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. Will this work? Absolutely! But it takes consistent effort. It also requires that we be alert to identify false and evil thoughts and rid them from our minds. A half-hearted effort will not work. Like a good surgeon going after cancer, we must remove all of it.
An important point: We cannot do this in our own strength. It is a spiritual battle. But in the power of the Spirit, we can take every thought captive to Christ.