Bible Verses to Help You Take Every Thought Captive

There is a great deal of literature on the subject of positive thinking, and the beneficial outcomes of abolishing negativity in one’s life. These principles make sense, as our minds are powerful, and our thoughts shape the actions we take and the type of people we become. The Bible is not silent on the topic of learning to take every thought captive, and there are numerous references in Scripture that boldly claim that anxiety can be beaten, and a life of peace and joy claimed, through the thoughts we allow into our minds by the grace of God.

The best thing about being able to attempt to take every thought captive is that, when we do it prayerfully and ask God for his help, we are changing ourselves in His strength and not through our own efforts. That brings with it a wonderful sense of relief and frees us to enjoy the process rather than lamenting our failings. Here are some verses to help you on your journey toward renewed thinking:

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV

The Christian life is based on faith and belief – what we think and know about God through His Word. There is also the very real existence of the devil, who knows how important our thoughts are, and “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He works cunningly, going directly to our vulnerabilities and planting lies in our thought life.

Think about how many thoughts cross our minds daily, how often these are negative ones, or are lies? Thoughts that we are not valuable or loved, that we are failures because we have not achieved a standard set by the world, that we can’t be Christian because of the sin in our lives…and the list goes on.

These lies go directly against what God says about us in the Bible, where he expresses that we are perfectly made in his image and perfectly loved – anything else we believe is simply not true. A first step in being able to take every thought captive is to analyze your daily thoughts and evaluate whether they are true, along with how in line they are with God’s expectations of how we should be thinking about things.

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. – Philippians 4:8, ESV

Once again, the Bible gives practical instruction on how to take every thought captive. The answer lies in replacing every sinful thought with one that pleases God; things that are admirable and pure. The more we know God and his Word, the more we will understand what kind of behaviors and attitudes please him, and what displeases him. In addition to negative thoughts about ourselves, we are called to not think about others in a derogatory or critical way.

This goes against the very nature of being human in a sinful world, but as new creations in Christ, we can change old patterns of thinking and replace them with holy, God-honoring thoughts. It is sobering to remember that while others may not know the negative thoughts that we have about them, God knows our every thought; and we will one day be called to account for our inner life.

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. – Romans 12:2, ESV

Being able to take every thought captive can lead to incredible changes – the verse above says that you will be a new person. As a result of your changed perspective, you will act differently and not copy the actions of those in the world who do not know God. Jesus challenged people on their thinking because regardless of how many times you read the Bible, if your mind doesn’t change, you will simply impose your biases on the words that you read.

Once God gives you a renewed mind, you will be able to clearly understand God’s perfect revealed will, namely, that which pleases him. As you seek to change the way you think, with God’s help, remember that the Bible is the tool with which you wage war against the sins of the mind which are not pleasing to God.

Write out the thoughts that plague you, and then compare each one to a truth found in God’s word. For example, if you are anxious about your finances and cannot see a way in which your needs will be met, compare this thought to God’s promise to provide for us in Philippians 4:19 (ESV) “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Note that it doesn’t say “everyone’s needs except yours” – and that is incredibly encouraging.

Write out the verses that correspond to your situation and repeat them to yourself several times daily. As the lies pop up, combat them with the truth of God’s word. As you repeat this behavior, it will become a habit and you’ll notice your anxiety decreasing as the strongholds are broken down. It may sound overly simplistic, but it is the practical outworking of what it looks like to take every thought captive.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live. – Deuteronomy 30:19, ESV

Taking every thought captive is important for several reasons, primarily because it is what has been commanded by God; but this verse in Deuteronomy shows that the stakes are quite high. God commands us to choose to serve him. The alternative is death. This may seem harsh, but the Creator of the universe has every right to impose such conditions on His creation.

To suggest that we humans are in total control of our destinies is the false premise of the self-help industry. However, in some sense, we do “choose our fate.” We are not merely innocent bystanders in life (as if there were any such thing), merely pushed around by circumstances beyond our control (though these certainly play a role). Rather, we must choose to serve God as He has commanded.

The responsibility to take every thought captive can be daunting, and it is essential to remember that if you are a Christian you are fighting from a position of victory. Jesus has conquered Satan and freed us from slavery to the desires of our flesh that can hinder us from working out the good deeds that Christ has given us upon our salvation. This should give us much-needed strength, as we know that we are safe in Christ, and he is actively fighting on our behalf.

Changing negative thought patterns can be difficult, so it is worth speaking with a trusted friend, your pastor, or even a trained Christian counselor, who can give you the encouragement you need every step of the way.