Demolishing Arguments and Pretensions
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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 (NIV)
Use today’s devotional as a prayer:
Father, teach me to wage spiritual war in your manner and not according to the world. Guide me to live—to fight, argue, and enter conflict—with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh.
Be my strength, Lord, when I am up against the wall. Father, bring me to a point where I no longer have any confidence in the flesh, but my confidence is only in you. Lord, train me so that when I face conflict, discouragement, or temptation—when I collide with any obstacle—I rely on you and your way.
The truth says you’ve given me the power and authority to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of you.
So, rather than getting into arguments, I can point to the truth and state it. Lord, make me ready to use the tools you provide and show me how to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against” you. Show me how to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Show me how to do that, and show me what to do. I commit to doing what you teach me to do.
May this be so, my Lord.
Question: Where do you have opportunities to do what this verse says in your own life and circumstances?
That is great news Paul. Thanks for letting us see the difference that the Holy Spirit is making in your life.
Funny I should read this blog I wrote several years ago. I was deeply struggling with some sinful habits, I remember so clearly. I completely opened my soul to the Lord day and night and He heard my cry and came to me with outstretched arms. In John’s Gospel it reads that we are saved by the will of God and not the will of the flesh or the will of man. In John 1 it says that He gave us the power to become the sons of God, and to those who choose light over darkness. In II Corinthians chap 2 it reads that the Foundation of God stands sure having this seal; The Lord knows those who are His and let every man who names the name of God depart from iniquity. So we know that God not only called us out from the World but also empowered us to be according to His Seed and walk in fellowship with Jesus and not in darkness. If we sin He is then faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all righteousness. We have opportunities to do what the verse says in every way we walk and everything we do throughout the daily activity. Proverbs 3 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make our path straight” In acknowledging Him in our daily life we are now focusing our full attention on God through Jesus Christ, and His power is enabling us to walk in victory in paths otherwise we walked in times past in defeat. I had struggled in my own strength as a “wannabe” Christian but fell short in my own power regardless of how strongly I wanted that victory. The day that I truly realized that Salvation is of the Lord and fell back into His Righteous arms was the same day that I began to jump over mountains thought uncrossable to me, Jesus precious blood had cleansed and made me whole. Today I walk in assurance, Jesus, of my salvation. He is my righteousness and my covering. As I read His Word He now connects the dots and thoughts and whispers Hope into my soul and leads me in the pathway of His Righteousness. I don’t have to pump it up in my own will or desire; it comes from the Father and is placed as a beautiful robe and covering. I’ve traded my rags for His Riches in Christ Jesus. That precious Spirit of Truth and Life and Light lives within me so how can I possibly want to walk in darkness! The same way that “men chose darkness rather than light” is how the Children of the Living God choose light rather than darkness because the Father’s seed remains in us and His Holy Spirit draws us to the Light.
That’s a great devotional and study and it is timely. I’ve always nad a horriffic temper as long as I’ve “known” myself. Before I could even think (that was the problem) I will have spouted off something out of my flesh that I later, or immediately, regretted leaving a wake of sadness, hurt and strain on relationships. It is within me to have great compsssion and love, but this ugly side I detest and pray about frequently. Asking the Lord to give me the “mind of Christ” in these matters, I requested of him just “One split second” to choose what I was about to say and not react like the devil would like me to, or my own flesh for that matter, the two go together you know! :-( “If I speak with the voice of Angels and don’t have love it profits me nothing” is an understatement. The stroke I had three years ago doesn’t help, nor some of my medications, but I don’t accept that, any or them for that matter, as an excuse for bad behaviour nd I am respoisnbie for what I do and say! I have, however, had victory with this weakness of mine, because my precious Lord did grant me what I have asked for, and that is just a second to decide from right or wrong, sin or righteousness. Scripture says if your hand offends you, then cut it off right? Well, I haven’t yet cut my tongue off, but in a sense I have, if I even have to literally “bite” it. Old habits die hard when we are in senior years don’t they! If I can’t say something for good, then I choose to say nothing at all, or something on the contrary, something good! And it feels soooooo much better when I do, so this study today is appropoe to me and I believe and accept that the Lord put it, lovingly, in my pathway. Thank you PTC and Lord for the good medicine for my soul and I might be a blessing to others along my way, that’s my daily prayer, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acce;ptab le in your sight Oh LOrd” I ask Him to put a guard around my heart mind and lips that I might please Him. “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not Sin against God”. Thank you, and thank you again and again.
This a beautiful, powerful and meaningful prayer. Thank You. It is timely for me as it extends what I am currently reading in the book The Gifts of the Holy Spirit by Lester Sumrall.