As we continue through the book “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table”, by Louie Giglio, we venture through chapters 5 and 6. As easy as we want to discredit or ignore, our mind races on with thoughts, ideas, visions, memories and aspirations. The challenge is not so much how to turn the mind off, but to nurture our mind to be healthy.
The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
– 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 MSG
Then in another translation…
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV
What does it mean to walk in the flesh but not waging war according to the flesh?
What comes to mind when you consider taking every thought captive in order to make it obedient to Christ? How have you attempted to do this in your life?
Four Tactics to Take
Louie described four healthy practices we should incorporate
- When a thought enters our minds, we have to identify that thought and restrict access if necessary.
- When a thought enters our mind, we must speak to that thought in Jesus’ name.
- When a thought enters our minds, we must claim the truth.
- When a thought enters our mind, we must walk in the truth.
When a thought enters your mind, you first have to identify that thought to see if it is coming from the enemy or from God. How successful have you been when it comes to identifying those thoughts that are from the enemy?
When you identify a thought that is from the enemy, how do you bind it in Jesus’ name? What does this look like in actual practice in your life?
What strategies have you found to be effective when it comes to living out the truth of God’s Word? How has this helped you to win the battle for your mind?
Next Session
When we gather again we will go through chapter 7
Giglio, Louie. Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table Study Guide. HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.