Today, I’m finishing up with the in-depth review of Louie Giglio’s book, Don’t Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table. There has been so much great information to look at for life transformation as a Christian. I’m still highly recommending you get the book.
To end this series I want to take a look at the way we think and how that can get us into trouble if we don’t take our thoughts captive.
Begin by training “your mind and heart to see yourself as victorious in Christ.” (p.96) “…adopt a mindset that sees (you) walking in all the victory Jesus has won for (you).” (p.97)
“God is greatly interested in you knowing Him….knowing God means you set your heart, purpose, and mind in that direction.” (p.110)
When Eve was tempted and sinned, she “had God’s word at that point. She had what God had told her and Adam about Himself….But she had little actual experience to back up God’s promise.” We have experience. We have the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in our story.” We now know, “God will do anything to reach (us) with His love—including sending His only beloved Son to the cross. Eve didn’t know what we know. She did not know how far God would go. But we do.” (p. 112)
We have the scriptures that Eve didn’t. We have the history. I struggle to memorize specific scriptures although I can recall enough to google verses and Bible stories. I keep signing up for Bible studies that want me to remember and recite scripture verses. I have rebelled up until this point. But, I now see the great need. To fight Satan we must learn to fight as Jesus did when He was tempted. And we can’t do that unless we have scripture flowing out of our minds.
Mr. Giglio points out the following:
- “Psalm 119:11 tells you to store up God’s Word in your heart so that you might not sin.”
- “Joshua 1:8 tells you never to let God’s Word depart from you.”
- “Colossians 3:16 tells you to let God’s Word dwell in you richly.”
- Matthew 4:4 says you’re to live by God’s Word like it’s food for your life.”
- “Scripture can keep you from sinning (Psalm 119:11).
- “It can help you overcome worry (Philippians 4:6)
- Many more are listed with these on pp. 133-134.
The author suggests you begin with memorizing Philippians 4:8 to get your thought life in order.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Mr Giglio also suggests that you write scriptures on notecards and place them where you work out, or memorize instead of watching TV at night, or download an audible version of Scripture to listen to in your car.
Once you have memorized scripture you can use them to take your thoughts captive.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
- Our weapons have “DIVINE POWER”
- Ephesians 6:1-18 lists them.
- “Those weapons have the power to demolish anything that sets itself up against God.”
- “With those weapons you don’t need to let any harmful thought that floats through you mind settle down.”
- “In Christ, you do not need to let the Enemy sit at your table.” (See p. 125)
The author points out that scripture actually gives you the prayer that you should pray—“God, help me take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Then, “Christ does all the work.” (p. 125)
You just have to agree with the work of Jesus.
Louie Giglio recognizes that many times we are “too agreeable with (our) thought life.” If things are going badly we allow ourselves to think things like: I’ll feel better is I overeat, or…give in to anger, or… that we deserve this or that because of a bad day or situation. (see pp. 126-127)
To take a thought captive means… “You forcibly detain it…so it will be stopped from hurting you or anybody else.” (p.128) “Bind the thoughts that don’t come from God and that don’t match the Word of God.” (p.130)
Jesus demonstrates for us the strongest of all examples on how to take thoughts captive right before He went to the cross. “Jesus was praying in the garden. It was a time of great intensity and agony. Jesus’ sweat fell in drops of blood to the ground. The night was so difficult, in fact, that Jesus prayed three times that God would not have Him go to the cross (Matthew 26:39, 42,44). (p.130)
“Ultimately, Jesus surrendered His own struggle with taking on our sin to the Father’s desire to make us holy. Even Jesus took captive His thoughts and made them obedient to God Almighty. Jesus ended His prayers by saying, ‘Not my will, but yours’ (Luke 22:42….This is the perfect model of taking thoughts captive! The pattern was set by Jesus Himself.” (p.132)
Here is one last thought from the book.
“If you want victory, you have to be ready to fight. If you’re not ready to fight, you’re not going to win. Once you lose the battle for your mind, you are done. Defeated.” (p133)
To sum it up—learn scripture, apply scripture, and let Jesus do the rest.
And… have a great week!