I love having a toddler. For me personally, I think the toddler phase is much easier than the baby phase and it’s amazing to see my daughter’s sweet personality develop as she learns at an astonishing rate. As great as it is, though, toddlers can try your patience. Several weeks ago, I selected three scriptures that I placed on the wall beside my bed so I could see them first thing in the morning as I prayed before starting the day. Those scriptures are Galatians 5:22-25, Philippians 4:6-8, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. I thought for today’s post, it would be nice to walk through those three scriptures and think about how they can help us manage our thoughts and emotions in a godly way.
The Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25, NET
I started out with this verse because it’s a reminder of the type of character we’re supposed to develop as we become more and more like God. When we enter a covenant with God at baptism and become part of His family, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a down payment on our full inheritance in His family (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30). God’s spirit inside us transforms us to be like Him, and as we become more and more like Him we will see the fruits of His character more and more prominently in our lives.
Our transformation is a work that God accomplishes, but we are not just passive recipients of that change (Phil. 2:12-13). In fact, we won’t change at all if we don’t take an active part in the relationship. We can’t become like God on our own, but we also won’t become like God if we aren’t working with Him toward that goal. It is our responsibility to “behave in accordance with the Spirit.” Studying the fruit of the Spirit, praying for God’s aid, and cultivating those traits in us is one way to do that.
Taking Thoughts Captive
For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NET
Thoughts often seem like they pop into our heads and there’s nothing we can do about them. It often seems impossible or counter-intuitive to be told that we are in control of what our minds think about. For many of us, thoughts and emotions just happen. For example, we don’t make the conscious decision to get angry when we read a news article or feel anxiety when hearing a strange noise at night.
While our first impulse might be out of our control, we do have the power to direct our thoughts where we want them to go. It’s not easy. That’s why this verse talks about warfare. But we can do it, especially when we are “made powerful by God” and ask Him to help us “take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.”
Peace In Your Mind
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
Philippians 4:6-8, NET
Anxiety has been a long-time struggle for me. This verse is a challenging one for me to believe because I have so much experience with having anxiety rather than peace even while praying faithfully and following God. But I also have experienced overwhelming peace that can only come from God. And I know that I have less anxiety when I pray for God’s help and do the hard work of taking control of my anxious thoughts.
This verse goes so well with 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 because it gives us specific things to think about when we take our thoughts captive. You can’t push wrong thoughts out and keep them out unless you replace them with something else.
As Christians, we know that we’re suppose to become like God. That often seems like an impossible goal, but impossible things are possible when God gets involved (Matt. 19:26). Inside-out-transformation happens as we cultivate the fruit of God’s spirit in us, fight with God’s power to take our thoughts captive, and dwell in the peace that He guards us with as we think on things pleasing in His sight.
P.S. For 10 years on my blog, I published a year-end review sharing site stats, most popular posts, etc. This year, I decided to move that into the newsletter. If you’re curious, make sure you subscribe so you’ll get that email when it goes out next week.
Featured image by Corey David Robinson from Lightstock
Song Recommendation: “My Feet Are On The Rock” by I AM THEY (one of my toddler’s favorite Christian songs)
Like An Anchor 