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 (2 Cor 10:5).

I am becoming increasingly convicted of the weakness of my flesh. I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), I have a new heart (Ezek 36:26), I desire to walk according to the Spirit.  But the good I desire to do, I do not always do.

Paul gives us practical advice, walk by the Spirit:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another,so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Gal 5:16-18)

Drawing near to God so He draws near to us goes hand-in-hand with fleeing from the Devil and him likewise fleeing (James 4:7-8). Often, we think of these things as something we must do, but rarely do we think of how taking every thought captive plays a role in this.

Sin is not something you do out of nowhere, it does no begin with Satan’s temptation, rather it’s origin is in our nature (Rom 5:12). It starts as our own desire and then it gestates (James 1:14-15).

We entertain day dreams that are not Godly, we aspire for things that glorify ourselves and not Him. Our goals are for our own edification and not for His glory. My mind battles with these desires, it is what Rob Rock call’s “Holy Hell.”

I believe the lyrics to his song explain what goes on in our minds quite accurately:

Over and over and over again
The spirit and flesh, the conflict within (Rom 7:22-23)
Temptation, desire, the fight to be pure (Rom 7:18)
The lust of the eyes, so hard to endure (1 John 2:16)

This is Holy Hell (Rom 7)
The battle for your mind (Eph 6:12)
Purify my soul (Psalm 119:36)
In the crucible divine (Rom  7)

Testing your weakness, enticement to sin (Matthew 4:3)
The master of lies is at it again (John 8:44)
Weapons of warfare and schemes of deceit (Rom 7:23)
The moment is now, the flesh is so weak (Matt 26:41, Rom 7:19)

The song does not give an answer as to how you deal with Holy Hell. Paul does. Submit every thought. Don’t give Satan a toehold, fight him mercifully for he is a liar and a beast, a disgrace of a demon who’s time is soon out. He will have an eternity of torture and punishment, his fate is sealed, he WILL be crushed. So, don’t aid and abet the enemy in how you live your life or in your mind.

He will keep rushing through the door, prepare for him. When he busts it down, shove him out, the fight is hand-to-hand. Fill your mind with the Scripture, pray, reflect on your faith, these are the weapons of war to combat Satan and God promises that they will work. Indeed, no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (1 Cor 10:13).

Take every single thought captive, may God help us. Christ sets us free for our bodies of death (Rom 7:24-25), thanks be to God!