This week is brought to you by the letter C, and the word catch. I was never much of a sports gal as a little girl. In fact, I played softball one season and was terrified a ball would be hurled in my direction. The pace, the pressure, and the YELLING were not a good scenario for this anxiety-driven heart. 

With that in mind, the thought of actually catching something sends me into a cold sweat. (This is why I have vowed to avoid anything that involves a ball 🎾⚽️🏓) However, let's make a slight pivot and think about a snowball. 

On the top of a hill with a great vantage point, a snowball fight can be exhilarating. Winding up for a good throw or getting a dry, gloved hand ready to grab takes preparation. But what about when the packed sphere of ice gets away from you? Imagine a slow-moving roll down a fresh snowdrift. Within seconds, this little lump begins turning into an uncontrollable avalanche.

And so with our thoughts. I know from experience. One or two anxious seeds take root and then sprout and then spread and then sweep over any and everything else. Therefore, we must catch it in order to take it captive.

[The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:4-5 (NIV)

This is actually an incredible concept that we do not give enough weight to. Within our circles, if someone is distressed, depressed, or worried, we casually quote this snippet — take every thought captive. However, you must be able to catch it in order to conquer it. An avalanche is impossible to harness.

Each idea, opinion, perception, and feeling must be caught when it's small and submissive. In order for that to happen, we must be attentive and obedient. The key word in that previous sentence is we — in regard to myself — I need to be awake and alert. Watching for the weapons of the enemy, but also aware of the story I'm telling myself. 

Two things I must do daily — measure and move. Measure my mental conversation against God's Word. And then move it to its rightful place — tethered to Christ. A truth is cemented in the gospel, and a lie is demolished at its root.

grateful —
J 🖤