Every Thought Captive
Week 2 – Pray Continually
Practicing prayer throughout the day
Prayer Practice: Every Thought Captive
Day 10, Tuesday, January 13
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
—2 Corinthians 10:5
Formation doesn’t only happen in intentional moments. It also happens in the ongoing, often unnoticed or unobserved flow of our thoughts. Scripture reminds us that what we think about shapes what we love, how we act, and who we are becoming. Unfortunately in can be common in Christian circles to think God only cares about our actions: “as long as I don’t act on my thoughts, I’m not actually sinning” and that kind of thinking can quickly become a license to harbor sinful thoughts and fantasies that pull us away from God.
Taking every thought captive is not about suppressing thoughts or pretending we don’t struggle. It’s about noticing what’s happening in our minds and intentionally turning those thoughts toward Christ. This practice invites prayer into places where anxiety, temptation, distraction, or self-criticism often live.
Prayer becomes continual when we stop letting our thoughts run unchecked and begin offering them to God.
How to Practice
As you move through your day, pay attention to recurring thoughts or inner narratives—especially those that pull you toward fear, frustration, pride, or despair. Catch yourself when you’re replaying something in your head or playing out an experience , a perceived slight/offense, or thinking about “what would happen if…”
When you notice a thought, pause briefly and bring it before God.
Ask yourself:
Is this thought true?
Is it drawing me closer to Christ or away from Him?
Does this thought need correction, surrender, or prayer?
Then respond with prayer. You might:
Surrender the thought to God
Replace it with a truth from Scripture
Ask for help, clarity, or strength
Simple prayers can be enough:
“Lord, help me trust You.”
“That’s not from You—lead me in truth.”
“Renew my mind.”
“The Devil is a Liar.”
This doesn’t require perfection or constant vigilance. It’s a practice of awareness and repeated return.
Gentle Reminder
Not every thought is a sin (of course!) —but every thought shapes us and is either pleasing or displeasing to God. Over time, offering your thoughts to Christ reshapes your inner life and teaches your heart to remain attentive to His presence throughout the day.
