Teach Me Jesus Thursday: Take Every Thought Captive

Photo courtesy Lisa Tarplee Photography

“Mom, I didn’t get any runs. They caught every ball I kicked!” my son exclaimed. Looking at me with tears puddling his eyes, he said “This was no fun. It’s a horrible day. Nothing is going right.” He then went on to list all the bad things that had happened so far that day.

“Do you know how powerful those words are?” I asked him. “When you focus your mind and heart on all the things that aren’t going right, it makes your heart heavy and upset.”

We got into the car and started the drive home from PE class. “Tell me three things you can thank God for” I said, wanting him to remember the countless ways God has blessed him.

Both my boys took turns listing things they were thankful for. I then talked to them about the importance of taking thoughts captive. “You have to take them hostage and put them in jail” I said. We then talked about the passage in Philippians 4 that says, “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.”

Later we opened our God’s Promises box and reviewed the promises from Scripture we had written down. I told my boys that when they are feeling down or upset, they need to remind themselves of God’s promises.

I know this struggle well. I’ve had many “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days” myself. I want my children to learn how to fight their negative thoughts with the truth from God’s word. The word of God is powerful. As it says in Hebrews, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12). The word helps us discern fact from fiction. It shines a light into dark places. It’s our weapon against lies and temptation. It helps us defeat those thoughts that threaten to snowball out of control.

Do you have a child whose negative thoughts build on themselves, spiraling downward? Here’s a few ideas:

1. Teach them God’s promises: Go through God’s promises in Scripture. Here’s a few to start with: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2). “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Have your child write them down. Read through this wonderful book God’s Promises (Children Desiring God) together.

2. Keep a list of God’s graces: Have your child write down a list of all the way’s God has blessed him or her. Perhaps keep a journal or develop a routine of talking about it at dinner each evening.

3. Have your child memorize Philippians 4:8: “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.”

4. Help them to see God’s hand at work in their lives, even in the frustrating moments: Teach them about God’s Sovereignty. There is nothing that happens in their life that is outside God’s control. How can they view their everyday challenges in light of God’s Sovereignty? Are there areas of their life where God might be refining them, stretching them, or giving them opportunities to learn and trust? Read God’s Providence together.

5. Pray with and for them: Sit with your child and pray for them. Pray for them in your own private prayer times. Only the Spirit can change and transform a child’s heart. Pray that the Spirit would be at work in them. Pray that God’s word would draw them closer to him.

How about you? Do you have any suggestions for how you help your child with this struggle?