VAIN IMAGINATIONS
Vain Imaginations
1 Chron 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Jer 23:16 The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Jerusalem: "Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.
Psa 73:7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Prov 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Jer 23:16 The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Jerusalem: "Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.
Psa 73:7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Prov 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Alicia Purdy: Way of the Worshipper: Get Victory Over “Vain Imaginings” and “Evil Forebodings”
Jan 29, 2022: Cynthia Jennings: Total Christian Life Ministries: Overcoming Vain Imaginations
Vain imaginations are when we allow uncontrolled (baseless lying unreal twisted) thoughts to overpower our rational thinking in such a way that God is not promoted, but self is promoted.
April 20, 2021: Sue Bohlin: Bible.org: Vain Imaginations
April 15, 2021: Joni Eareckson Tada: Joni & Friends: Vain Imaginations
Joni Eareckson Tada
Fantasies, silly thoughts, vain imaginations, useless daydreams. These are the sorts of things which, if you let them, will puff themselves up so high in your head and heart that you’d swear they were true. A furtive thought that lingers on your mind and begins to wear a rut, repeating itself time and again. Maybe it could be a false hope; it could be an unfounded fear; whatever it is, it doesn’t belong in your head. It’s nothing but a vain imagination.
And I know from experience that if you let these vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become just that: powerful strongholds. And every time you rehearse that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher in your head. The more you repeat the imagination, the more powerful the hold it has on you – so powerful that even when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. The pull of the imagination has become, at that point, too strong.
Now you can try the self-help route, the old turning over a new leaf. “I’m not going to think these thoughts. I’m not going to let these imaginations rule my day. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” I’ve tried to do that. You know, single-handedly dismantle strongholds in my mind. But it doesn’t work. And that’s why I am so grateful for 2 Corinthians 10:4 because it says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” Christians have got divine power, and that’s the key. Divine power – power to tear down every vain imagination. And the next verse goes on to assure you and me that we can actually “demolish every stronghold that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and [then we can] take captive every thought [and] make it obedient to Christ.” -- Joni Eareckson Tada: Joni & Friends: Vain Imaginations 4.15.21
And I know from experience that if you let these vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become just that: powerful strongholds. And every time you rehearse that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher in your head. The more you repeat the imagination, the more powerful the hold it has on you – so powerful that even when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. The pull of the imagination has become, at that point, too strong.
Now you can try the self-help route, the old turning over a new leaf. “I’m not going to think these thoughts. I’m not going to let these imaginations rule my day. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” I’ve tried to do that. You know, single-handedly dismantle strongholds in my mind. But it doesn’t work. And that’s why I am so grateful for 2 Corinthians 10:4 because it says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” Christians have got divine power, and that’s the key. Divine power – power to tear down every vain imagination. And the next verse goes on to assure you and me that we can actually “demolish every stronghold that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and [then we can] take captive every thought [and] make it obedient to Christ.” -- Joni Eareckson Tada: Joni & Friends: Vain Imaginations 4.15.21
April 8, 2020: Jenny Rose Spaudo: Charisma: Spiritual Warfare Tactics to Overcome Vain Imaginations
Sept 15, 2018: Becky Laney: Operation Actually Read the Bible: Vain Imaginations
Becky Laney
When we give into "vain imaginations," when we neglect to "bring into captivity" our [natural] thoughts, we set ourselves up for trouble.
In our imaginations we often rewrite things our own way:
We rewrite who we were, who we are, who we are going to be.
--Becky Laney: Operation Actually Read the Bible: Vain Imaginations 9.15.18
In our imaginations we often rewrite things our own way:
We rewrite who we were, who we are, who we are going to be.
- We rewrite who God is and what he is like.
- We rewrite what we need, what we expect, what we DESERVE.
- We rewrite relationships: how we relate to each other and how we relate to God.
- We rewrite priorities. We make big things little and little things big.
- We rewrite definitions and truths.
- We rewrite "good" and "evil." Isaiah 5:20
- We dismiss the realities we don't like and thrive upon fantasies.
--Becky Laney: Operation Actually Read the Bible: Vain Imaginations 9.15.18
Jan 15, 2018: June Doyle: Amazing Grace: Guard Against Vain Imaginations
The definition for vain is baseless or worthless.
The definition for imagination is forming mental images that are not actually present.
Vain imaginations is when we allow uncontrolled (baseless or worthless) thoughts to overpower our rational thinking.
Our mind is an active battleground for our enemy. If he gets us (Christian or Non Christian) to believe and to act on every vain imagination …he wins and we lose.
Stress and anxiety are the breeding ground for vain imaginations.
The things we feel to be true is not always true. These vain imaginations can make lies, evil thoughts, and wrong desires become a reality.
God loves us so very much that He gave us a list of questions to ask ourselves about our thoughts.
The definition for imagination is forming mental images that are not actually present.
Vain imaginations is when we allow uncontrolled (baseless or worthless) thoughts to overpower our rational thinking.
Our mind is an active battleground for our enemy. If he gets us (Christian or Non Christian) to believe and to act on every vain imagination …he wins and we lose.
Stress and anxiety are the breeding ground for vain imaginations.
The things we feel to be true is not always true. These vain imaginations can make lies, evil thoughts, and wrong desires become a reality.
God loves us so very much that He gave us a list of questions to ask ourselves about our thoughts.
Jan 20, 2016: Stephanie Reck: The Bottom Line: Overcoming Vain Imaginations
Stephanie Reck
Vain imaginations start with a thought, and if you do not take that thought captive immediately, that thought forms a mental picture in your mind. You then begin “seeing” your fears, anxieties and worries play over and over in your mind. Vain imaginations elicit terror, depression, discouragement, stress, anxiousness, worry and doubt–all of which originate from the enemy. If you choose to hold on to the image the enemy presents to you, it will create a lack of peace and emotional instability. For example, if you have a picture in your mind of someone you love dying and are plagued by fear surrounding the image, that is a vain imagination and needs to be cast down immediately and replaced with a scripture or two from the Word of God.
Overcoming vain imaginations begins with asking yourself, “Is that thought or image from God?” If you do not know, ask yourself, “Do I feel peace and can I find this in the Word of God?” If you answer no to these questions then do not agree with what the enemy is showing you, instead reject the lie immediately and find scripture to say and believe instead. You must do this as quickly as the image comes to your mind, otherwise, a stronghold will form in your mind concerning the false image and you will begin to act and think as if what you were shown is really going to happen.
“Casting down imaginations and every high thought that exalts itself against the Kingdom of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5-6
--Stephanie Reck: The Bottom Line: Overcoming Vain Imaginations 1.20.16
Overcoming vain imaginations begins with asking yourself, “Is that thought or image from God?” If you do not know, ask yourself, “Do I feel peace and can I find this in the Word of God?” If you answer no to these questions then do not agree with what the enemy is showing you, instead reject the lie immediately and find scripture to say and believe instead. You must do this as quickly as the image comes to your mind, otherwise, a stronghold will form in your mind concerning the false image and you will begin to act and think as if what you were shown is really going to happen.
“Casting down imaginations and every high thought that exalts itself against the Kingdom of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5-6
--Stephanie Reck: The Bottom Line: Overcoming Vain Imaginations 1.20.16
Peace comes as a by-product of time spent with God in His presence and allowing the Word of God to choke out the lies of the enemy. Remember, a lot of times the images you receive from the enemy will seem real but if you’re grounded in God’s Word, you will recognize the deception immediately.
Mark Sartin
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [ b]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, NASB
Note the use of these words in these verses. In verse four, thoughts or beliefs can be built as fortresses or strongholds used in revolt against God's Truth. Here are the most frequently used terms:
vs 4, our weapons destroy f ortresses or strongholds:
(fortresses, strongholds, wardings, strengths) Most frequent is, "strongholds."
In verse five, we destroy " arguments" that are raised up against the knowledge of God. Words that are frequently used here are:
(vain) imaginations, speculations, considerations, reasonings, arguments, deceptive fantasies, counsels. Note that these thoughts assimilate into vain imaginations, beliefs systems or ways of thinking that oppose God. These systems may become so clearly defined that they are articulated as reasonable ways of thinking about God!...........These may be translated as: heights of man's thoughts, ideas, lofty opinions, imposing defenses erected by men, lofty thoughts, arrogant obstacles, proud obstacles, high ideas. Don't underestimate the ability of the enemy to present these subtly, as unimportant, or as something that is not a deal-breaker of faith. The fact remains that wrong believing will not get you to right results..
--Mike Sartin: How to Pray in Faith: Pulling Down Vain Imaginations 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Note the use of these words in these verses. In verse four, thoughts or beliefs can be built as fortresses or strongholds used in revolt against God's Truth. Here are the most frequently used terms:
vs 4, our weapons destroy f ortresses or strongholds:
(fortresses, strongholds, wardings, strengths) Most frequent is, "strongholds."
In verse five, we destroy " arguments" that are raised up against the knowledge of God. Words that are frequently used here are:
(vain) imaginations, speculations, considerations, reasonings, arguments, deceptive fantasies, counsels. Note that these thoughts assimilate into vain imaginations, beliefs systems or ways of thinking that oppose God. These systems may become so clearly defined that they are articulated as reasonable ways of thinking about God!...........These may be translated as: heights of man's thoughts, ideas, lofty opinions, imposing defenses erected by men, lofty thoughts, arrogant obstacles, proud obstacles, high ideas. Don't underestimate the ability of the enemy to present these subtly, as unimportant, or as something that is not a deal-breaker of faith. The fact remains that wrong believing will not get you to right results..
--Mike Sartin: How to Pray in Faith: Pulling Down Vain Imaginations 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Taking Thoughts Captive
NIV Bible: Take Every Thought Captive
Paul says we do: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage —”take captive every thought,” “make it obedient to Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. “This heart belongs to God,” we declare, “and you aren’t getting on board until you change your allegiance.”
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren’t allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him . . . Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ ” (Matthew 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, “Get away from me.” As if to say, “You are not allowed to enter my mind.”
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). --NIV Bible: Take Every Thought Captive
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage —”take captive every thought,” “make it obedient to Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. “This heart belongs to God,” we declare, “and you aren’t getting on board until you change your allegiance.”
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren’t allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him . . . Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ ” (Matthew 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, “Get away from me.” As if to say, “You are not allowed to enter my mind.”
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). --NIV Bible: Take Every Thought Captive
As a man thinks, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. What we think about is crucial to who we are. Scientists don’t agree on how many thoughts we have each day, but all agree there are thousands of them. Who we are is shaped moment by moment by the thoughts we choose to let into our mind and heart. But how can we control the thousands of thoughts that enter our mind each day? What do we do with the thoughts that are not pleasing to God? How can we, in reality, take every thought captive? Often, our thoughts have to be focused on the regular tasks we must accomplish that day. However, as we go through the day, we can catch thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God’s will and keep them from gaining control of our mind and heart. Paul explains how this is possible: “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.’’ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. It is written that we need to battle to keep our thoughts pure, but it is also written that we have weapons to fight with. --Steve Lenk: Active Christianity: How do I take every thought captive?
We must also strengthen ourselves for this warfare beforehand by following Jesus’ example when He was tempted by the devil to turn the stones into bread: “But It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.
The Word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit are mighty to help us take captive our thoughts. Jesus had armed Himself by reading and meditating on the Word of God that could help Him in the trials of His life. If we notice there are areas of our thought life that we find difficult to overcome, we can find specific Scriptures that can help us to get victory over them, and believe in a God who is mighty to save!
--Steve Lenk: Active Christianity: How do I take every thought captive?
The Word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit are mighty to help us take captive our thoughts. Jesus had armed Himself by reading and meditating on the Word of God that could help Him in the trials of His life. If we notice there are areas of our thought life that we find difficult to overcome, we can find specific Scriptures that can help us to get victory over them, and believe in a God who is mighty to save!
--Steve Lenk: Active Christianity: How do I take every thought captive?
We must also strengthen ourselves for this warfare beforehand by following Jesus’ example when He was tempted by the devil to turn the stones into bread: “But It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.
The Word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit are mighty to help us take captive our thoughts. Jesus had armed Himself by reading and meditating on the Word of God that could help Him in the trials of His life. If we notice there are areas of our thought life that we find difficult to overcome, we can find specific Scriptures that can help us to get victory over them, and believe in a God who is mighty to save!
The Word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit are mighty to help us take captive our thoughts. Jesus had armed Himself by reading and meditating on the Word of God that could help Him in the trials of His life. If we notice there are areas of our thought life that we find difficult to overcome, we can find specific Scriptures that can help us to get victory over them, and believe in a God who is mighty to save!
Feb 1, 2021: Kathy Collard Miller: Crosswalk: What Does the Phrase 'Casting Down Imaginations' Mean in the Bible?
The second Greek word of the phrase for “imaginations” is logismos which is defined as arguments, thoughts, and reasonings. Just as Satan questioned Eve’s perceptions, challenged God’s words, and reasoned with her to confuse her in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), Satan was using the deceptive reasoning of false teachers to cause the Corinthians believers to question who God is and how He defines salvation and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every day, every one of us has thousands, even millions, of thoughts which could be identified as a variety of goals, plans, questions, ideas, conclusions, and analysis of circumstances. Like arrows being flung toward our minds and hearts, we are bombarded. Many of those arrows are truth. Many of them are lies. The truths foster trust in God and acknowledgment of his Lordship in our lives. The lies create doubt, confusion, wrong conclusions, and ultimately questioning God’s nature—his goodness, motives, faithfulness, and many other attributes.
Ephesians 6:16 tells us, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Those “darts,” our inner dialogue, come from many sources, including our own analysis, our hearts’ desires, the opinions we hear from others, what we read, watch, and hear. Without being viewed through the filter of truth, the influence of the darts turns us toward worry, hate, lack of self-control, criticism, discontent, and many other responses which are the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). When we use the filter of the truth of Scripture and who God is, we experience the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. --Kathy Collard Miller: Crosswalk: What Does the Phrase 'Casting Down Imaginations' Mean in the Bible
Ephesians 6:16 tells us, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Those “darts,” our inner dialogue, come from many sources, including our own analysis, our hearts’ desires, the opinions we hear from others, what we read, watch, and hear. Without being viewed through the filter of truth, the influence of the darts turns us toward worry, hate, lack of self-control, criticism, discontent, and many other responses which are the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). When we use the filter of the truth of Scripture and who God is, we experience the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. --Kathy Collard Miller: Crosswalk: What Does the Phrase 'Casting Down Imaginations' Mean in the Bible
Philippians 4:8 ESV 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
Colossians 3:1-3 ESV If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Romans 7:23 ESV But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Colossians 3:1-3 ESV If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Romans 7:23 ESV But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Have you noticed your mind doesn’t always do what you tell it to do? Sometimes our minds “has a mind of its own.” Sometimes our thoughts go off in directions that we don’t intend. When we need to pray, our thoughts stray. When we want to ponder God’s Word, our thoughts want to wander. Why is that? Because our spiritual enemy is active.
The Bible says, when this happens, we need to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). What does that mean? The Greek word used in that verse literally means you take thoughts prisoner. You conquer them. You bring them under control.
That’s only possible when you use the two weapons every believer has available to them: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
First, we need to recognize the power of God’s Spirit inside us. Without him, we are defenseless. Romans 8:6 says, “Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (NLT). We need Jesus in our life because, without the Holy Spirit, our sinful nature controls our mind and will always lead us in the wrong direction. But when the Spirit controls us, we have the power we need to take every thought captive. Paul tells us that, his incomparably great power (is available) for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesian 1:19,20.
--Tedd Lewellen; Scio Community Church; Taking Every Though Captive 6.15.22
The Bible says, when this happens, we need to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). What does that mean? The Greek word used in that verse literally means you take thoughts prisoner. You conquer them. You bring them under control.
That’s only possible when you use the two weapons every believer has available to them: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
First, we need to recognize the power of God’s Spirit inside us. Without him, we are defenseless. Romans 8:6 says, “Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (NLT). We need Jesus in our life because, without the Holy Spirit, our sinful nature controls our mind and will always lead us in the wrong direction. But when the Spirit controls us, we have the power we need to take every thought captive. Paul tells us that, his incomparably great power (is available) for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesian 1:19,20.
--Tedd Lewellen; Scio Community Church; Taking Every Though Captive 6.15.22
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32.
People like to quote the second part of that passage. But very few people quote the first part, where it says you have to learn and obey God’s Word. People want the freedom without God’s truth. In reality, there is no freedom without truth. And there is no truth without God’s Word. God has given us the direction we need for life, and we can trust every word the Bible says. The more we get to know God’s Word and fill our mind with his truth, the easier it will be to direct our thoughts where we want them to go.
People like to quote the second part of that passage. But very few people quote the first part, where it says you have to learn and obey God’s Word. People want the freedom without God’s truth. In reality, there is no freedom without truth. And there is no truth without God’s Word. God has given us the direction we need for life, and we can trust every word the Bible says. The more we get to know God’s Word and fill our mind with his truth, the easier it will be to direct our thoughts where we want them to go.