Who swings in the playground of your mind?

Chapter 3: Taking Every Thought Captive

Have you ever created something with good intentions, given it to a beloved, maybe especially a child, and seen them use it in ways you did not intend?  Or maybe words were completely twisted and a compliment became offensive.  Because we intended to have children in our home for an unknown period of time, including the rotating door of fostering, Chris put up a beautiful playground in our backyard.  He went to every extent to make it "safe", putting in 9 inches of pea gravel, and getting the best playground out there- as good or better than any you might see at a park or church.  We wanted a haven where our kids could greet the day, get out energy, have healthy fellowship, and retreat after a day at school.   There were many wonderful memories made there, including an evening when the kids sang "Way-Maker" at the top of their lungs while swinging.  However, it didn't always look like that!  You may already be guessing that the pea gravel got thrown at times, that children would climb up the slides when they should be going down, and that kids would jump off the swings.  All of those things happened- some corrected, some just part of playground activity.  But then there were kids that would decide to climb on top of the monkey bars, attempt to balance across the top of the swing set, and climb on the roof of the clubhouse. The clubhouse was used as an artillery outpost during Nerf gun and gel bead wars.  Kids tumbled from the rock tower and legs got hung up where they were not supposed to be.  Thankfully, nobody got seriously hurt, but when my neighbor suggested we get extra insurance for the playground in our backyard, we concurred.  

I think our minds can be like that playground.  God created us to think on things that are good and beautiful, to admire His creation and converse with Him.  To exalt and uplift others, and to be encouraged in fellowship.  But we can get ideas in our head that are not of God, and let Satan use what was created for healthy fellowship become a battlefield. Surrendering means refusing to let our thoughts run wild in the playground of our mind, disassembling traps set by allowing unhealthy habits, bouncing our eyes from destructive visions, and quickly forgiving and redirecting our thoughts when offended.

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5

This includes:

• Worry and anxiety

• Negative self-talk

• Comparison

• Bitterness

• Fantasizing or daydreaming outside God’s will

• Allowing a comment not in alignment with God's word to become prophecy (meditating on it)

• Holding on to shame

• Taking a victim mentality

• Letting anger fester into destructive actions

• Lusting after what is not ours

• Judgement- self or others'

All of these things lead to separation.  It is important to consider that it is our soul we put in prison, even when we think we are justly protecting ourselves or separating from someone else for good reason.  It is not the physical separation that locks us up and torments us, but the thoughts we let play through our mind.

Instead, meditate on God's word and His law.  If you are questioning why you don't "feel" God's blessing, even when you are in the eyes of the world blessed, consider what you are mediating on.  Deuteronomy 6:1-2  gives us this promise, upon the receipt of the Ten Commandments: "These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord and God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life."

Have you ever known someone who just seemed too negative to die?  I have.  She was a complainer and upon her husband's death was so sure that she would not live many days without him for all the ailments she had and heartbreak.  Although she continued to tell us that "she just didn't think she'd be around much longer for her suffering," she survived at least another ten years!  There was a whole lot of griping heard and meditation on all that was wrong in her life and the world, and she did not enjoy those years (did not seem to have enjoyed the years before either, though apparently her husband did make it better).  May I say first, that's God's grace on that person and you may be in their life to impart some blessing of truth upon.  Other than always loving on her, I don't know that I shared much truth.  God's desire is that we walk closely with Him (which requires an attention to His word for Holy living) and to enjoy our long life.  

We get to choose what we allow to play in our minds; Joshua 1:8 gives us the code to breaking the attraction to pleasing our flesh and letting our minds wander:  "Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night , so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful."    

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4-9, "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

Finally, whatever is true whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."

Please consider a few things with me:

The emphasis on "Rejoice!"  Paul tells us to rejoice, not from a point of living in a mansion with whatever we could ever want, but from within the prison walls of whatever life circumstances we may have, just as he did (Philippians 4:11)!  We are never given room to complain and meditate on all that is wrong (become anxious), but rather by prayer and petition with thanksgiving (believing it is already done, and being thankful for the presence of the Lord and that He hears and knows us), present our requests to God.

When we present, submit, lay down, give up those things that would otherwise weigh us down, we will have the peace of God.  We don't have to guard our hearts and minds by our own strength, but rather, when we are in the Word and submitting to God, He has the access to be able to guard our hearts and minds and we can live in peace.

The "finally" admonition recently came to me in a new way:  whether it be your life circumstances or the people you are surrounded by, choose to think on the things that are "noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy," of them or your situation.  Just as one negative comment may need 7 positive for you to overcome, God gives you 7 things to focus on instead of anxious, hateful, divisive thoughts.  

When we ponder in depth the Word of the Lord, and apply it to our lives, there is no room for the questioning that can lead to judgement, shame, and separation.

Renew your mind with Scripture (Romans 12:2). Replace lies with truth.