Something to Think About

Something to Think About:Every Thought Contrary to Gods Word - CAST IT DOWN!

2nd Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What does it mean to cast down imaginations?

To cast imagination in this verse is to cast down (get rid of, throw down, get away from) every thought, idea, ways that seem logical, natural thought patterns, and basic human perception, and lift up God’s Word above it all.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Casting down imaginations also means (not accepting the devil’s thoughts, suggestions, and visions) which is a spiritual weapon that you must use to be victorious over the enemy.

The enemy desires to tempt you to doubt God. He wants you to see your circumstances as a determining factor in whether God is faithful or whether you will be successful. Jesus told His disciple Thomas in John 20:27 to “…stop doubting and believe.” It is God who can change your circumstances in the end.

Romans 8:28 in the Amplified Bible says, “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

The devil wants us to live in fear. He desires to rob us of our faith. Have you ever seen a movie where someone steals a priceless diamond and replaces it with a fake one? The enemy desires to take fear (false evidence appearing real) and have us put it in place of our faith (which is the priceless currency of Heaven). However, when we cast down imaginations and things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, we spot the counterfeit when it is presented to us and dispel those thoughts and not let them be the driving force of what we believe, say, or do.

Psalms 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”

The enemy of our souls tries to convince us to walk in insecurity and inferiority. He will tell us that we are not good enough and unloved. However, Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified says, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set] so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

The devil wants us to navigate life alone and without community. In a world that doesn’t acknowledge Christ or follow His ways, it is nearly impossible to do it without a great community.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

Not only does the devil want to lead us astray by falsehood from wicked teachers who don’t lead us to Christ, but he desires to cause us to fail by settling for less than God’s best for our lives. The enemy wants you to feel like, “What’s the use!” and live as if there is no hope.

2nd Corinthians 4:8-12, the Message Version says, “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery, and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!”

We don’t look like or act like what we’ve been through. We have cast down all evil imaginations. Our circumstances don’t dictate our mood long term. We should no longer worry to the point where we are picturing the worst possible outcome for our circumstances. Instead, we believe the best. We believe God to do what He says He will do.

Romans 7:21-25 in the English Standard Version says, “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh, I serve the law of sin.”

As the old songs say, “My heart is fixed, and my mind is made up!”

We have to make up our minds to trust the Lord despite what human nature and the ways of society deem possible. We place our faith in God, continually and don’t give in to fear! We find a community of like-minded believers who will encourage us and support us when we are at our lowest. We cast down every evil counterfeiting lie of the devil and place our hope in the God of our salvation.

You may have to sing, pray, read God’s word, talk to a brother or sister in Christ, or all of the above to cast down every evil imagination, but you will make it by God’s grace. Hold on to what you know of God to be true and let that be your place of safety, joy, and peace during life’s storms.

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” Something to think about.