Taking Thoughts Captive.

     We humans are pretty complex.  I'm sure that sounds like the understatement of the century.  But if we examine how we think and feel throughout any given day, we quickly come to the conclusion that we entertain hundreds of thousands of thoughts and associated feelings each day, and unless specifically focused, all of this happens without thinking about it!  Some have called this "the stream of consciousness."  It is this deep underground spring of thoughts, feelings and individual choices that give life its variety, creativity and individual uniqueness.

     I have noticed that sometimes my feelings seem to be out of my control.  For example, on any given occasion I may feel sad, disappointed, angry or hopeless.  Sometimes I feel captured and held hostage by the emotional quicksand of the moment.  These emotions are not good or bad they just are the present reality of my internal wanderings.  However, one author (Dallas Willard) has said, "That our emotions are like unruly schoolchildren sitting on the front row of our lives."  I think he meant our feelings just are; they exist.  But, like unruly schoolchildren we can choose how much attention we give to them.

     This brings me to the point of my "wanderings" in this blog.  How much control do I have over my feelings?  How much attention should I give to those "ups" or those "downs?" Am I really captive to these emotions or can I assert or choose some alternative cognitive behavior that will give direction to what I  feel?  

     Some people think that they are stuck with their moods and the emotional tones of life.  For sure our moods and emotions can give rise to habit patterns of feelings.  We can become "moody" as the dominant expression of our life and conclude that we don't have any choice in the matter.  The heart changes everything; the heart is the central seat of governance in my life.  It is the place of my choosing.  It is the place of my will.  I can actually make a choice about how I will feel.  However, it is not by just choosing to feel differently, it is by choosing to think differently.

     I am told my thoughts originate in the part of the brain called the neocortex.  My emotions are subsequently assigned to these thoughts in another part of the brain called the Limbic System.  If this is true, then my thoughts can actually dictate by and large how I will feel in any given situation.  By exercising some discipline and focus I can choose what I think about and my emotions normally follow the thoughts I have.  Wow, I feel better already!  Don't you wish it were that easy!  But like anything, a little practice can accomplish great things.

•    Jesus said, "As a man think in his heart so is he."  "The mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart." Matt. 12:34  What you choose to think about is a really big deal and will determine how you feel, how you speak and ultimately who you are.

•    The Apostle Paul encourages us to "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."  If we don't make that choice again and again, we can develop a "Stronghold," which is a habit pattern of thinking and feeling that no longer requires a conscious choice on our part.  It is just a plain old habit and usually results in a further downward swirl into darkness. II Cor. 10:5

• Paul furthers encourages us to "think about those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable." Maybe he knew something about how our will, our mind and our emotions work in cooperation with each other.  Phil. 4:8f.

Don't let your emotions pull you along in life without a conscious choice.  Don't allow your thoughts to just go wherever they please, you might find them in places that are not pleasing.  Exercise your choice to think in a focused and disciplined way and you will discover that you feel so much better.