Spiritual Warfare: 'Taking Every Thought Captive'

God's Power for Our Battles — Friday, July 17, 2026

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ... 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 10:3-5 NIV

Today's Prayer

Lord, thank You for reminding me that this is war - mental war. Many thoughts pop into my mind that should be removed, discarded, rejected, and eliminated. Help me to have the willpower to do just that. Help me to reject them, remove them, abstain from them, and replace them with good thoughts and wholesome, godly thinking. And grant me the discernment to know when this is happening to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

10 Related Resources by Heartlight

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Devo: Today's Verse
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have..."
Spiritual Warfare
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, teacher of spiritual soldiers, Thank you for the example of the meekness and gentleness of Christ. If I must show boldness or be..."
2 Corinthians 10:5
Devo: Today's Verse
"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."
God’s Weapons Win Over Worldy Strongholds
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments."
See All 10 Related Resources about 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Illustration

Illustration of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV — For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ... 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.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, July 17, 2026

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Passion and Truth in Praise'
"Dear Beloved, Today you will read two powerful passages of praise. The first one is from Paul's letter to the Colossians. The second is from Paul's....."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Holy and Blameless' (Ep. 1:3-4)
"Dear Father, King of an eternal kingdom, Thank you for giving me the greatest motivation in life. You have called me into your kingdom, the greatest...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 63:1
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Isaiah 36:5
"Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's answer, and see if it is yours. "On whom dost thou trust?" "I trust," says the..."

About This Devotional

Spiritual Warfare is a daily devotional about God's power for our battles.

The Prayer for Spiritual Warfare is written by Steve Hemphill.

More Spiritual Warfare