Tag Archives: take every thought captive

Can You Be Scared to Death?

Posted on July 18, 2023 by expressyourself4him

According to the American Heart Association, there is a condition where an individual can be scared to death. Whenever someone is suddenly frightened, a blast of adrenaline shoots through their bodies. This causes your heart to rapidly pump blood in an effort to get more blood to your muscles. In extreme cases, any strong reaction can trigger fatal amounts of chemicals like adrenaline which has resulted in death in the past.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau; and now he is [on the way] to meet you, and four hundred men are with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups, Genesis 32:6-7.

Since there wasn’t a doctor present in the passage above, Moses suggests that a blast of adrenaline began to race through Jacob’s body. When Jacob received word that his brother Esau, who previously threatened to kill him in Genesis 27:42, was approaching his family with 400 men, a spirit of fear consumed Jacob. As someone who is afraid of snakes, Jacob’s mind was likely racing, filled with images of Esau seeking revenge on his younger brother.

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection], 1 John 4:18.

If you ever find yourself crippled by a spirit of fear, one of Jesus’ disciples provides a remedy in the passage above. The apostle Paul also chimes in on this topic in 2 Timothy 1:7. Fear doesn’t come from the Lord above, James 1:17. Rather fear comes from the father of lies, John 8:44. Whenever the presence of fear seeks to evade your life, take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5. Putting this into practice will help you from becoming scared to death.

by Jay Mankus

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What You Say Isn’t Always What God Wants Others to Hear

Posted on November 9, 2017 by expressyourself4him

As someone who works at Amazon, I come across thousands of products weekly.  Some of these units I have to examine, investigate or test.  Due to the bizarre nature of some or unusual name of others, I am tempted by sarcasm.  Without any type of a filter, I may blurt out something comical, funny or witty.  Despite how humorous my comments may be from time to time, what I say isn’t always what God wants others to hear.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect, Romans 12:2.

I can’t speak for other people, but I tend to go through various stages of conviction.  When I am in tune with God, my spiritual antennas are heightened.  This usually results in obeying God.  The rest of the year I experience weeks when I am numb, aimlessly wondering through life like Israel in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.  This stage produces periods of coarse joking and sarcasm, as I lose my direction and vision for life.  If I allow apathy to reign, this is where I lose control of my vocabulary, letting loose words slip.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5.

As I have fallen into bad habits, the Lord reminded me of this verse above.  Frustrated by my current state, I tried to apply taking my thoughts captive.  What I learned is that what was funny to me last week, isn’t funny to God.  Thus, as I performed my daily responsibilities, keeping my mouth shut was tough, much harder than I thought.  Although I blurted out a few sarcastic responses, taking every thought captive requires extreme discipline.  While I don’t have the ability to be perfect, in my own weakness to do and say the right thing, Jesus can be strong.  Therefore, I press on forgetting my past to focus on the future so that God’s sanctifying grace will make me whole.  In the meantime, make sure the words you utter reflect the compassion, grace and love of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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