The Process of Taking Every Thought Captive

Anxiety and stress distort our thought processes. We can get stuck in a negative thought pattern and become overwhelmed. Anxious thoughts turn over again and again in our minds, further cycling negative beliefs about ourselves that are untrue. We question why we are anxious and scold ourselves for doing so. Learning to take every thought captive is a Biblical approach to reducing those feelings of anxiety and worry.

For those who suffer from an anxiety disorder, it is not as simple as relaxing. God wants us to depend on Him for peace. Learning how to replace negative thinking with positive and uplifting messages is a deep and intentional process by which a person recognizes their thoughts and decides to change them. Try the following steps the next time you are stuck.

Identify the thought

The first and most fundamental step is to identify the onset of the thoughts that lead to anxiety. To begin to change, we must first be able to recognize that the intrusive thought we are experiencing is present and influencing us negatively.

Analyze the thought

To take the thought captive, you need to analyze the thought and determine if it is causing anxiety, depression, or anger. You may want to ask yourself, “Does this thought align with my faith and God’s word?”

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2, NASB

Engage the nervous system

When you find that you are experiencing a thought that is triggering anxiety, depression, or anger you will need to engage your nervous system. When you take every thought captive you learn how to respond instead of reacting. Engaging the nervous system may be something as simple as deep breathing exercises; acknowledging that your heart in racing, or your gut is churning; or sitting still, tightening, and then, relaxing muscles.

Question the thought

Once you have engaged the nervous system through calming activities, you can begin to dissect the thought. This will help you know what faulty thinking you need to change. By asking these questions about the triggering thought, you can determine the value of the message.

• Is this thought true?
• What is the evidence of this truth?
• Is there an opposing thought?
• What is the evidence of this opposing thought?

Once you identify the distorted thought, you begin to imagine what realistic ideas can take its place.

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12, NASB

Examine God’s Word

Through scriptures, God can guide you as you take every thought captive. One of the best ways to do this is to keep a journal of scriptures that you use each time you experience a time of anxiety, depression, or anger. You can also create scripture cards that you can keep handy and take with you when you are away from the house.

We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB

Take on the new thought

As you follow God’s word, you can make the new thought an action. When the negative thought pops into your head, you immediately counter with the truth about yourself or the situation from scripture. As you practice this new behavior, you will begin to see the peace it creates in the place of the former turmoil.

Help for taking every thought captive

Anxiety, depression, and anger are areas that we all experience at times. For some, it will be a more intense journey than for others, but we will face these hard times. In these moments, God invites us to take every thought captive to experience His true peace.

We can learn to arrest negative thoughts and hold them up to truthful, positive statements found in God’s word. When we choose to change the script of our thoughts, we can change the way we respond.

These steps are a starting point. Some of us may need the assistance of a Christian counselor in Richardson, Texas to transform our thinking. If you or your loved one have been clinically diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or anger disorders, you will need professional help. Reach out to us at Richardson Christian Counseling in Texas and get started with a Christian counselor from our directory for biblically-based treatment.