“Have I ever shared with you what I call ETC?” Stan asked one day.
“No, I don’t think so. What does it mean?”
“Well,” Stan continued, “it is an obvious fact that everything I do — or what any of us do — is determined by thought processes. What I think will determine what I do.”
“So I have to be real careful about what thoughts I allow to influence me. When I have a thought that is not in keeping with who I am becoming in the likeness of Christ, I need to take that thought captive.”
“One day,” Stan continued, “while I was having a journal conversation with God, I was given the image of ETC, for EveryThought Captive, written on a mental sticky piece of paper stuck on the front of my brain.”
“Every time I have an inappropriate thought about another person, about my circumstances, or about anything, I look and see ETC and take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
“It is for me a very useful tool in keeping where the Lord wants me to be.”
“Do you do that all of the time?” I asked.
“I can’t say that I follow that process every time, but I can assure you that every time I do, the Lord makes clear to me what He has for me to be and to do. And it is usually a lot different than what would happen if I did not take the thought captive.”
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We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Prayer: Lord, you know my tendency to have thoughts that are contrary to what you have for me to be and to do as one of yours. You also know that if I act on such thoughts my witness of being yours is damaged. I need and I ask for all you can provide in helping me to take every thought captive in obedience to you and to your lordship. Amen.