Rejection: A Case Study on How to Take Your Thoughts Captive
“Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Using rejection as a sort of case study, we’ll learn how to expose lies of the enemy, walk in the authority of Jesus Christ, and practically learn step by step how to take your thoughts captive.
how spirit of rejection works
Let’s start with understanding the spirit of rejection.
If you continue to partner with the lie that says you are rejected or will be rejected, then you will continue to push people away and reject others OR you’ll continue to push people away so that they will eventually “reject” you. You’ll self-sabotage until your belief is proven true. You’ll actually cause rejection because you have partnered with rejection.
It won’t matter how unconditionally deeply and truly somebody loves you. If you continue to believe in rejection, you’ll never be able to receive love.
(This happens in someone who has not yet learned how to our thoughts captive. The good new is that we will learn and have authority to break this cycle!)
how to take authority
The short of it is that we need to recognize that these thoughts are lies of rejection and confess to Lord about your strong tie with rejection. Repent. Turn from that belief. Turn away from that partnership. And ask the Lord to show you a higher way—a path of trust, a path free from fear, self-protection, and self-destruction.
So how does this work practically? Here are details!
consequences of partnering with rejection
If you don’t take authority over these false beliefs, you’ll continue to choose people and pathways that “prove” that your belief is right. At every opportunity, you’ll tell yourself, “See, I knew they would reject me.”
If we haven’t been practicing how to take your thoughts captive, then the lies run amuck. And even when your perception is not reality. Even when someone offers unconditional love, the person partnered with the spirit of rejection will find a way to believe that the love is false or transactional or comes with strings attached.
The other sad fact is this. When someone with God’s heart comes along, someone who remains steadfast in their love toward you and stays committed no matter what, if you’ve partnered with the spirit of rejection then you will actually try to reject this person. But if you try and try to push them away and they keep their love on and stay committed, you’ll find a way to end the relationship by rejecting them. Have you seen that pattern in your life? If so, you likely have a strong tie with rejection.
why can’t I feel loved?
Why does that happen? If you can relate with pushing truly loving people away, it’s because your partnership with the spirit of rejection is stronger than your partnership with that loving person. Often, it’s because your partnership with fear of rejection is stronger than your belief in love and your ability to be loved.
This applies to receiving God’s love too. If you are honest with yourself and realize you don’t really believe God loves you or that He even could love you, then there’s a strong possibility that the root of that lie is rejection.
If you believe that people or God will reject you and cannot love you, confess your alliance with the spirit of rejection today. Repent and be set free.
getting to the root
Evil spirits like this get access to our hearts and minds through something wrong we did to others (sin), through generational sins (iniquities), or through abuse and trauma inflicted on us by another person through no fault of our own (wounds).
Inner healing is like any physical healing. We can treat symptoms (like every thought of rejection) or we can get to the root (like where did this first take hold in my life). We still need to take authority over the symptoms, but if we want wholeness and full freedom, then we need to also get to the root cause.
To find the root cause, it often helps to ask the Lord where this spirit of rejection first took up residence in your heart.
Often, rejection can enter is as far back as when you were forming in your mother’s womb! From a parent, a doctor’s diagnosis, etc. Babies in the womb are fully alive and perceptive of the emotions and intentions of the people around them.
seek and you will find
Ask the Lord if you are believing any lies of the enemy lately.
Just ask Him. He’s kind and good. If any memory or any impression or emotion rises up, take note. Those are often ways God likes to start a conversation.
And then press in further.
The Lord might expose a root of rejection. He might also expose something else.
And then ask the Holy Spirit, our Wonderful Counselor, to show you what is TRUTH. A Scripture, a memory, a vision, a dream. He talks to us in so many creative, intimate, and personal ways. Ask Him to help you hear and recognize His Voice. The Truth will set you free. Jesus is the Truth, and He will set you free.
how to take your thoughts captive
The best way to deal with the lie is:
1.) Recognize and expose the lie. Call it out for being a lie.
2.) Put on the armor of God and plead the blood of Jesus over your mind.
3.) Take authority over the lie. Take the the lying thought captive. Declare out loud, “In Jesus’ name, I cut you off and break off the power of _____ over my life, and by His authority, I command you to flee.”
4.) Resist the devil (the father of lies) and he will flee from you. But resisting is often an ongoing process that slowly builds spiritual fortitude and strengthens you to walk in your authority. So every time the lie tries to come back with more false “evidence” or “accusation” or “proof”, take authority over the false agreements all over again.
5.) Declare, study, and meditate on what is TRUE. Find a Scripture that declares truth over the lie. Memorize it because God’s Word is a double-edged sword that is useful for rebuking the lies of the enemy. God’s Truth is our only offensive weapon and it’s a powerful one!
battling for our freedom
“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. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
This is how we gain our freedom in our minds!
This is how we take our thoughts captive!
Some people call this process “spiritual warfare.” I know that can sound daunting, but if you engage in this confession, repentance, rebuking the enemy and standing on what is true… then you are becoming a spiritual warrior in the most humble and powerful way.
Til next time… Toodle-loo, and Peace be with you.
If you want to walk in the authority of Christ, full forgiveness and the full power of the Holy Spirit, here’s a prayer to ask Jesus to wash you clean and lead you in a new life.
If you decided to give your life to Jesus today, please let us know so we can share in your new joy! And seek out someone in your area who loves Jesus and walks in humility who can help show you the way.
If you have any questions, you can drop in comments below. That’s what I’m here for!
