Don’t Poke What Hurts

There’s an old joke that always makes me smile. You’ve probably heard it, too. A man goes to his doctor and says, “Doc, it hurts when I poke right here. What should I do?” To which the doctor says, all together now: “Then don’t poke right there!” Thank you. It was fun sharing that together. And, now that I have your attention, I’ll tell you why we’re resurrecting that great Henny Youngman funny.

It reminds me of a biblical truth. Perhaps it’s familiar to you, as well. II Corinthians 10: 4-5 teaches us to take every thought captive. Followed correctly, it’s one of the most powerful, freeing behaviors a person can learn. My problem is that I’ve been known to take a thought captive all right— captive as in, you’re not getting away from me now! I have a feeling you can, too.

I can be guilty of analyzing a thought to death while simultaneously trying to get away from its death grip. I use that word on purpose. Our thought lives can drain all the life out of us, if we let them. The remedy is in understanding that taking a thought captive is just half of that well known verse. Listen to the conclusion, “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

The obedience of Christ…thankfully, I’m learning that in my own strength I can’t take a thought captive the right way. The only way to escape it is to bring it under the dominion of Christ. All of my efforts are wasted, until I take the thought to the Cross. There it is defeated. When I tell God, “I gladly yield this thinking to you! Give me strength to let it be,” the very power of Christ becomes available to defeat the thing.

My point? If it hurts to poke that thought. Don’t. Don’t pet it. Don’t poke it. Don’t analyze it. Run with it to the Cross and watch it lose its sting.

Hugs,
Shellie