How to Take Every Thought Captive
By Jimmy Sliwa
Whenever I have an intrusive thought or temptation that is contrary to God’s word I do this simple exercise.
I freeze the image in my mind and imagine demolishing it with a sledgehammer. Boom!
It may seem odd, but this is my attempt to take every though captive. With enough practice, I have become quite good at this.
I now do this with lustful thoughts or jealous thoughts. I even do this if I find myself playing the victim.
This simple exercise in and of itself isn’t the whole picture of taking every thought captive, but it does offer a practical first line of defense.
What's It Mean to Take Every Thought Captive?
To take every thought captive means to intentionally examine and control your thoughts, aligning them with truth rather than allowing negative and harmful thinking to take root.
It’s a concept rooted in the idea of mental discipline—recognizing that your thoughts have power and influence over your emotions, actions, and ultimately your life.
By taking your thoughts captive, you’re choosing to redirect your mindset and refusing to be ruled by fear, temptation, or lies.
2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us: “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.”
This verse is a powerful call to spiritual awareness and intentional thinking.
And you need to know something.
You have the power to control your thoughts! Depression. Lust. Greed. These things have no power over you except what you give them.
Intrusive thoughts are like an enemy. You have to take them captive. Arrest them and make them a slave. Don’t let them wander freely through your mind—handcuff them, drag them into the light, and interrogate them with truth.
To take your thoughts captive means to make your thoughts your slave. You don’t obey them—they obey you.
I love how the Bible uses the word “captive.” Like a prisoner, the thought is no longer free to roam or control your decisions. It is locked down, stripped of its power, and forced to submit.
That’s the level of authority you are called to walk in—not as a victim of your thoughts, but as a master of them.
And the more you practice, the more natural it becomes. You’re not aiming for perfection—you’re aiming for progress. One thought at a time.
5 Steps to Take Thoughts Captive
1. Recognize Toxic Thoughts
The first step to taking your thoughts captive is learning to identify the negative or harmful patterns in your thinking. These could be rooted in fear, insecurity, comparison, anger, or lies you’ve come to believe over time.
Becoming aware of them is powerful because you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. Pay attention to your internal dialogue and the emotions that follow.
2. Mind What You Consume
Your thoughts are heavily influenced by what you allow into your mind—through media, conversations, music, social media, and even your environment. Be intentional about filling your mind with truth, encouragement, and positivity.
Guard your mental space the way you would your home, only allowing in what aligns with the life you want to live and the person you want to become.
3. Freeze the Thought
When a toxic or intrusive thought surfaces, pause and stop it in its tracks. Don’t let it spiral or grow roots—acknowledge it, but don’t let it take over.
This mental “freeze frame” moment gives you the opportunity to evaluate the thought instead of reacting automatically. It’s like hitting the brakes before heading down a dangerous road.
4. Replace the Thought
Once you’ve stopped the negative thought, it’s time to replace it with something true, empowering, and life-giving. Use scripture, affirmations, or even logical truths that counter the lie you were about to believe.
Over time, this rewiring of your mindset creates healthier patterns and builds inner resilience.
5. Tell Someone
You don’t have to battle your thoughts alone. Sharing what you’re struggling with can break the power of secrecy and bring clarity and support.
Whether it’s a trusted friend, mentor, or counselor, speaking it out loud helps you process and gain perspective. Vulnerability invites healing and reminds you that you’re not in the fight alone.
Practice Makes Perfect Progress
Taking thoughts captive doesn’t come without practice.
For me personally it took years after my wife found out about pornography for me to learn to take lustful thoughts captive.
But with practice comes progress. And with progress it becomes easier to make your intrusive thoughts your slave.
The shame, guilt, and mental patterns didn’t vanish overnight. I had to learn how to recognize the triggers, interrupt the spirals, and actively choose a different thought—sometimes over and over again in the same hour.
But with practice comes progress.
Slowly, I began to win more battles than I lost. The intrusive thoughts started losing their grip, not because they stopped coming, but because I stopped giving them power. I started replacing them with truth—reminding myself of my identity, my commitment, and my calling.
And with progress, something incredible happens: the discipline becomes instinct.
You start to see the thoughts for what they are—lies, distractions, temptations—and you take authority over them instead of letting them control you.
It’s not about achieving perfection—it’s about creating a mindset rooted in strength and grace.
