Our kiddos like to ask questions about what we choose: things we do as a family, my personal preferences, why don’t we buy/eat/do this over here, and what we want in the future. If I could choose between a Honda or a Kia, what would I choose? If I could choose the color for the car, what would I choose? Simple things like that. Then there are other questions about what we’re looking for in a house? A property? When would we move? What school would they go to? Some of these I have no answer to because we’re just not there yet. By the way, I would choose a sapphire midnight blue Honda, a house with 5 bedrooms, and a property with acreage – moving last month.
There are always things that we have to make choices on. I choose every morning to have a cup of coffee or tea. I choose what I’m going to wear. I choose to hug my husband and all of my kiddos. I choose to spend time reading my Bible. I. Choose.
It’s not just our actions, possessions, and plans we make choices on. We also choose our attitude, our mood, and our thoughts. Yes, you read that right. We can choose our thoughts.
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 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Philippians 4:8 NIV
This has been a topic we’ve been focusing on for several months now. A sibling is being obnoxious on purpose – we can choose to walk away. Someone treats you poorly – you can choose to forgive. Someone does something nice for you – you can choose to show gratitude. We always have a choice in how we respond to others. The same goes for our thoughts. We can choose to allow anxious thoughts to spin madly out of control – or we can choose to take our thoughts captive and think thoughts that are lovely or admirable or praiseworthy.
Let me be clear: I know that anxiety and depression are not made-up conditions. I personally suffered from seasonal depression and didn’t even realize it for several years. I don’t want anyone to think that I’m diminishing something that is experienced by so many. But even in diagnoses, we have a choice. We can choose to succumb and embrace – or we can choose to take actions to get better, to fight back, and to overcome. We can choose to listen to and believe the lies whispered by the enemy or we can remind ourselves of the promises that God made to His children. It comes down to faith, and faith demands a choice.
All of the choices we have around us that beg to be made – all of the thoughts that infiltrate that we have to take down or reroute – all of this takes discipline. If you’re anything like me, you may automatically jump to images of being spanked as a child (did anyone else have to go pick out a switch?), having to eat soap for a bad word spoken, or standing in the corner (for ages). For me, there was a negative connotation attached to the word discipline. Perhaps I should change that word to training. Either word that you may choose to use comes out the same: sometimes it’s uncomfortable, it’s not always easy, and it takes effort. Three things that are often avoided if at all possible, and three things that we must choose to go through.
It’s easy for us to pop a pill to “fix” our problems but changing our thoughts or our diet takes effort. It’s easy to drink a glass (or two) of wine to wind down at the end of a hard and stressful day but learning to operate in peace that can only come from the Holy Spirit takes effort. It’s easy to build up walls because of deep-rooted hurts, but it takes effort to dig those roots up and learn to forgive (sometimes over and over again). It’s all about whether or not we’re willing to train ourselves in what we choose.
Our oldest daughter, now grown and married with a child of her own, was taught that she could choose her attitude. When she would get in trouble as a very energetic (and talkative) 10-year-old, we would tell her she could have a few minutes to get her mindset readjusted, but that she wasn’t allowed to stay in a bad attitude – she wasn’t allowed to sulk. It was difficult for her at first, but as she continued in it, she became so proficient that she would hang out with the family a few minutes after getting grounded and she was able to laugh and play with her siblings! Her efforts paid off and she was able to choose happiness even when she had to go without.
When we train in our faith – when we choose to trust God’s promises instead of the lies often running through our heads – we become stronger. Most have heard the comparison of lifting weights: if you can’t lift a ten-pound weight, you’re likely to not be able to lift a fifty-pound weight. So it goes with our faith. If you’ve never chosen faith for something small, how do you expect to have the courage and strength to choose faith regarding something big?
Faith is a big proponent of, well, our faith. That’s kind of an oh duh statement, but sometimes the oh duh statements are necessary.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Faith is obviously pretty important. If it’s so vitally important for our well-being, for our life as a Christian, and for experiencing victory every day, this should be something we choose to train ourselves in. This is not a do this for God to bless you concept. This is an oh duh concept. If you want to have a swimsuit-ready body, you’re probably not sitting around scarfing down pastries or cookies or cakes. You’re probably eating healthy and getting in some exercise.
What I love about this (one of the many things I love about this) is that when we choose to direct our thoughts – routed for praiseworthy, true, noble, and pure – we are going to experience a life of victory. It is an oh duh concept, but the choice still has to be made. Faith demands a choice. These choices can be tough to make, but I encourage you to keep making them, and be prepared to live a victorious life.
What victories have you experienced after choosing to take your thoughts captive? How has your faith grown stronger? If you’ve never tried it or if it’s been a while, I want to encourage you to test it out or try again. I can’t wait to hear of your victories as you choose to direct your thoughts to be in line with God’s Word.