“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
The distractions we face on our faith journeys and even the logic that prohibits yielding to God’s plan can be considered as ‘proud obstacles’ Part of what this implies is that much of our sin results from pride. Remember Adam and Eve were enticed by the the idea of being like God. Nimrod also suffered from pride, and determined to establish a monument to himself. Capturing the rebellious actionu included the differentiation of language (see Genesis 11).
Capturing our rebellious thoughts and action doesn’t have to be as severe, provided we are prepared to vet our thought prior to acting on the impulse. We know what pleases God, and to a great extent, are able to discern our motives. And, if in doubt, we can ask God to place a check on our spirit. It stands to reason then that we are responsible for acting on God’s check.
And that’s where obedience comes in. Even for ‘creatives’ like myself who nurture that hidden desire to always be original. For it is all) too easy to ignore the counsel of others as we dance to the beat of our own selves. So, let’s invest in Operation Godly Obedience (OGO). OGO begins with acknowledging our human nature that lends itself to disobedience. On the heels of the acknowledgment is the move to deepen our relationship with Jesus so that our spiritual nature overrides our humanity. Fasting and Prayer are helpful here, as well as a healthy dose of humility. Humility undergirds our willingness to repent when we do sin and to confess that we sinned.
When we can detect the patterns, all that becomes easier as, by God’s Spirit, we exercise self control. Not easy but definitely worth it. I pray God’s blessings as we subdue rebellious thoughts and prideful obstacles from our hearts.