We’ve been hearing a lot lately about cutting wasteful spending from our nation’s budget to reduce the debt burden on taxpayers. But trimming waste isn’t easy—whether it’s excess pounds, financial overspending, or even our thinking. Yes, wasteful thinking can be just as burdensome as out-of-control spending or eating. The problems that arise when we neglect our thought life are significant—and sadly, some have eternal consequences.
Paul tells us in Romans 1:21,“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Here, Paul speaks of those whose hearts were untouched by God’s Spirit, still walking in darkness rather than light are futile in their thinking. However, for those of us who have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light are still called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). And one of the most common, sometimes neglected battles in our ongoing pursuit of sanctification is wasteful thinking.
As a biblical counselor, I’ve seen how real this struggle is. Wasteful thinking can lead to discouragement, discontentment, divisiveness, and despair. Sometimes it becomes so deeply entrenched that it feels like the person has no control over their thoughts. This burden weighs heavily—not just on them, but on those who love them.
What Does Wasteful Thinking Look Like?
Wasteful thinking happens when our minds drift from the present moment—the gift God gives us—and wander off into a barren wasteland. Usually, our thoughts take one of two familiar paths: the future or the past. Neither can be controlled, yet we obsess over predicting what’s coming or rewriting what has been. By preoccupying our thoughts with things in the past or imagination for the future, we fail to be fully present—either with present responsibilities, communion with God, or in sacrificial service for others.
There are other wastelands, too. Fear, for example, isn’t just a wasteland—it’s a powerful stronghold that can overrun our thoughts and steal our peace. Romans 8:6 underscores a powerful motivation to choose to control your thoughts or let them control you: “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Who is the Captain of Your Thinking
To be a captain means to be in command. Captains lead armies, fight battles, and take enemies captive. Those who can take captives also have the power to set captives free. Scripture shows us that our Savior is that Captain, the One who “sets the captives free” (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 58:6). As John 8:36 asserts, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Dorothea Day, in her poem responding to the famous Invictus, called My Captain, declared, “Christ is the captain of my soul.” Christ came to free us from the bondage of sin so we could worship God without fear, confident our debt is paid by the precious blood of His Son, who now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. Christ, our Captain, now commands us to be captains of our thoughts. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Captains don’t just command—they guard and defend. As captains of our thinking, we must guard our hearts and take captive of wasteful thoughts—the “arguments and lofty opinions” that oppose the knowledge of God and will lead to discouragement, despair, and derision if they to fester and grow.
Basic Training
Every soldier undergoes basic training to learn discipline and obedience before mastering specialized skills. Our spiritual warfare is fought within, in the realm of our thoughts, and we need training too. We must learn how to take our thoughts captive unto Christ. God has given us everything we need for this training: His Word, His Spirit, and His Church, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Like good soldiers, we must learn how to engage with these weapons and practice the discipline of taking our thoughts captive, renewing our minds with God’s truth through the Spirit’s power.
The Discipline of Knowledge
Discipline is key—not just in controlling eating, spending, or drinking—but in taking wasteful thoughts captive. Through the Spirit’s power, we read, study, listen to, and sing God’s Word (Colossians 3:16). We seek for God’s thoughts to become our thoughts.
Isaiah reminds us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Paul commands us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise—think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). This list describes our Savior, who alone is worthy of praise. To think on these things is to cultivate the mind of Christ.
Our goal is to imitate our heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:1) and be ready to answer those outside the faith with a pure heart, speaking with grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Being ready means being sober-minded and alert, prepared with wise, hope-filled words—not rooted in selfish ambition but in humility, counting others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). Words “seasoned with salt” preserve and heal rather than destroy or discourage.
A Prayer for Your Thought Life
My prayer for you, reader, is that your thoughts will no longer wander in wastelands, and that you would be encouraged to help your counselees do likewise. By the Spirit’s power, may you practice taking your thoughts captive, ready to answer anyone who asks about the Captain of your soul, because your heart and mind are rightly occupied with glorious thoughts of Christ.
Conclusion
As you go about your day, remember that God calls you to be the captain of your thoughts—not a passive passenger on a wandering ship. This discipline takes practice, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. But as you intentionally take your thoughts captive, you will find peace, purpose, and readiness to share the hope that lives within you. May your mind be filled with what is true, honorable, pure, and lovely. And may your words, seasoned with grace, bring light to a world often trapped in wasteful thinking.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do you notice your thoughts drifting into “wastelands” of fear, regret, or worry?
- How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you take those thoughts captive and redirect them toward truth?
- What practical habits might you develop to immerse yourself in God’s Word daily and align your mind with His?
- Who in your life needs you to be ready to speak words of hope and grace? How can you prepare yourself for that?
See original blog post here.
