2 Corinthians 10:4-6 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

All of mans teachings must be judged in the light of the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul does not condemn human reasoning, but does warn that you must not allow your intellects to be exercised in defiance of the Lord and in disobedience to Him. You should not cling to thoughts that do not conform to the life and teachings of Christ. Paul did not walk according to the flesh or his worldly desires; instead he conquered his flesh. He explains his strategy in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.”

Challenge:

A fruit of the Spirit, that may often be overlooked, is self-control. Christians must live in such a way that they are consistently in control of their thoughts and actions. This weeks challenge is to practice self-control both in your physical actions and in your thought processes. Training yourself to wait and think before you act is a quality that is greatly needed today. People seem to think they have a right to speak their minds whenever they want no matter what the content might be. As the Psalmist says in Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” God will give you the words to say in the right time, you must wait for His instruction and His timing. May the Lord bless you and keep you.