Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ

by Kelly Balarie

We do not have a spirit of fear and timidity; we have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. When we walk by the Spirit, we are not conformed to a world of worry and anxiety. Bad habits must cease. Negativity, confusion, and worry are banished. The enemy has no playground.

Sound impossible? With God, nothing is impossible. Author and speaker Kelly Balarie offers a rousing call to be transformed through the renewing of your mind by taking every thought captive to Christ. She shows you how to
· recognize the lies of the enemy
· replace those lies with the truth of God
· pray through times of mental and emotional strife
· proactively use God's Word instead of living defensively and defeated

If you long for clarity, purpose, or peace of mind, the clear, actionable steps laid out in this book will be a game-changer.

Genres: Christian Non Fiction, Christian Living, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

Kelly Balarie is a passionate national speaker who has spent nearly ten years leading groups of women in spiritual growth, marriage building, and general Bible studies across the nation. She has lived her subject matter. Her faith was built as she battled through a debilitating eating disorder, depression, multiple sclerosis testing and concerns, company failures, family deaths, job losses, and times without income or money. Throughout difficult circumstances, Kelly has looked past the pain to uncover the beauty of God's always-developing purposes for her life. Her greatest desire is to share this treasured beauty with other women who need a fresh drink of God's grace and restoration. Kelly is a featured blogger at Crosswalk.com and iBelieve.com. Her work has been featured on Relevant, (in)courage.me and was also the cover story on Today's Christian Woman. She lives with her husband and two toddlers near the sun-soaked shores of the East Coast.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Baker Books for the ARC of Take Every Thought Captive in exchange for an honest review. As someone who gets in her head a lot and lets the negative thoughts spiral I was excited to read this book. I got a lot of takeaways and tips from it, but I did have a hard time getting into the book which is why my rating is a 3.5 (rounded up). I appreciated all the extra resources the author gives to go along with the book both in the Appendix and on her website. I’ll definitely be referencing those in the future when needed.

[Joelle Inpyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - Packed full of God’s Word and practical wisdom on how to take negative thoughts captive and surrender them to the Lord. A book I will continue to open and refer to!

[Valerie Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Every Thought Captive by Kelly Balarie helps readers exchange lies of the enemy for the mind of Christ. This book gives hands-on suggestions for changing self-defeating thoughts to transform the way you think. The writing is heartfelt and honest and succeeds at showing how to take powerful biblical truths to heart so we can train our thoughts and take them captive.

The book is divided into three parts: 1. Arm Up For Battle 2. Be Strong of Heart, Be Strong of Mind 3. Start Now: Take Every Thought Captive. Each chapter ends with a declaration, homework, and a prayer.

The second part of this book really solidified what God has been teaching me about the heart. I knew that our thoughts affect our emotions and actions, but it's always a struggle to understand what it really means to take a thought captive. It always seems like the thought comes first, so how do you take it captive? Regulating our thoughts always starts with our hearts, and I hadn't fully processed that truth until reading this book.

"If we address a thought without handling its underlying heart issue, we will play a never-ending game of Whack-A-Mole when we try to take our thoughts captive."

As he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

I loved the idea that we think with our hearts first. "You don't think from your mind. You think from your heart. If your heart is off, your course will be off too. Our hearts must think right for our thoughts to be right."

"As Christ takes up more room in our hearts, as we see Him throughout our every day, and as we are pondering Him in our minds, the thoughts of His heart become the thoughts of ours."

I also loved how the book helped me see how easy it is to say I trust God when my actions show it. This quote helped me think about how my lack of trust in God negatively affects my thought life.

"We react to what tastes good in the moment instead of responding. We don't trust the mind of Christ. We don't think His way is our best way or as good as our own way. We don't think the nudge is really God. We don't trust God to defend us. We don't want to rely on anyone but ourselves. We don't feel like waiting on God when we can do something faster. We don't think something we don't understand could possibly be the right way to go. We don't think the other person will change without our two cents. We don't trust prayer. Lack of trust leads us to doubt everything in our minds."

Declaring the truth out loud is one way to take thoughts captive, and this book provides declarations to say in order to take hold of the truth.

Kelly Balarie says that when she struggles with negative thoughts, she turns them around by cheerleading her soul.

"God is going to teach me how to be a good wife and a good mom. God is going to carry me out on the other side and make me stronger. God is going to show up and lead me in the way I should go."

Part three of the book, shares practical ways to take thoughts captive by agreeing with God and thinking with our renewed minds. It teaches how to stop negative thought patterns and think about what we're thinking by using the STOP/START method.

Each chapter in this section tackles a specific damaging thought/lie and uses each step in the STOP/START process. This section is helpful because Kelly Balarie uses her situations, circumstances, and negative thoughts and shows the reader how she utilizes the STOP/START method to change her perspective. The end of each chapter promotes further soul-searching by asking a thought-provoking question with space in the book to journal.

STOP
1. Capture the Thought
2. Determine Who is Speaking
3. Understand Intent
START
1. Submit to the Mind of Christ
2. Discover any Unlocked Doors
3. Repent, Renounce, Pray,
4. Go a New Way
5. Keep the Temple Shining

I highly recommend this book because it walks you through what it looks like to take thoughts captive. The Holy Spirit touches hearts with Biblical truth, and that truth is what helps us exchange the lies of the enemy for the mind of Christ.

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found that books by Kelly Balarie are difficult to review for one simple reason: there is such a vast amount of information and teaching inside each chapter that I’m rather at a loss of how to even touch on a small portion of it! Her new release from BakerBooks, entitled “Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ” is completely overflowing with insights and wisdom, yet remains very practical and ‘doable’ for women in any phase of life.

Kelly’s powerful writing voice sometimes comes across as a little intimidating at first, but I think it’s only because she is so passionate and invested in everything she does. In this case, it is helping us become free of the traps set in our minds from the enemy, by taking hold of the counteracting truth God offers to each one of us. With daily declarations, prayers, homework, online aids, Scripture memorization, and so much more, Kelly truly gives us a battle plan to implement - starting today!

I love how empowered this book made me feel, not in a prideful way, but rather in a way that helps me realize when I am holding tightly to God’s hand, spending time in His Word each day, and equipping my mind with the Truth He offers, truly nothing is impossible.

Thank you Kelly, for once again offering your readers an incredibly powerful volume that will help us transform our lives in all the right ways. I am so excited, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to join us on this journey of accepting the truths that hold the power to set us free.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Christians, we know we have the mind of Christ. We know we are to renew our minds. I have read many books encouraging me in those areas. This is the first book I have read that actually has a practical plan to really work on controlling my thoughts and renewing my mind. And if we don't quite get the teaching, Balarie gives several examples of how the process works.

She has a stop/start strategy. She helps us learn how to capture the thought and identify the underlying belief. She then helps identify the speaker, God, the enemy, or our flesh. We think about what maintaining this thought would ultimately produce. Then we start doing something new, submitting to the mind of Christ, see what door we opened to lead to this thought, repent, renounce, and pray. Then she helps us go a new way and shows us how to guard our heart and mind for the future. She provides a worksheet at her website to help us specifically work through this process.

This is a great book. I highly recommend it. It is the most enlightening and practical one I have read on renewing our mind.

[Julie Loos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you struggle with negative thoughts? Maybe a certain thought runs on repeat in your mind?

As a Christian, I have struggled with unwanted thoughts in my life. I used to let them run wild and then wonder why I couldn’t break free. Here’s the deal: I knew they weren’t rooted in God’s truth. I could see them for what they were, fake through and through. My problem was I wasn’t sure what to do once I noticed these thoughts. How does one take them captive?

Kelly’s book gave a solid plan with action steps on how to do this! I found her suggestions easy to follow and put into place!

This is a great book for those wanting to take control of their minds and transform them into a mind of Christ! I highly recommend it to those wanting to overcome this stronghold in their lives!

[Kathryn Groop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. I have read other books about guarding your heart and mind, but this book takes it to another level.

“Beliefs tell a mind how to go. They dictate actions. They drive a person to peace or to pull out their hair. And so not only our thoughts but also our wrong beliefs must be brought into submission to Christ.”

Kelly writes practically about what keeps us bound to wrong thinking and how to embrace the freedom Jesus bought for us on the cross. Her practical action steps and journal prompts invite you to pick up your sword and do battle with the enemy.

If you are looking for a practical, Bible-based plan to take back your thoughts—and your life—this is the book you want.

[Laura Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changing one’s mindset is difficult, but Kelly Balarie has created a template for working with the Holy Spirit’s power to become a new person. We so easily are discouraged when trying to change ourselves, but she challenges us to “Plan to prevail, do not prepare by doing nothing to fail.” We can become more like Christ and Kelly has written a book that I will return to again and again as I recognize more and more areas that need worked on in my life.

[Tammy Kennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Every Thought Captive is an encouraging, practical book for the woman who wants to overcome unruly or unwelcome thoughts. Sharing from her own life, Kelly deals with such topics as loneliness, rejection, and the perception of lack. This book is so good that I plan to buy one for my young adult daughter.

It's worth every penny!

Favorite quote: The size of your God far outweights any issues in your mind.

[Jarrad Hodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading Take Every Thought Captive with my church’s book club, and whew.. it was a journey. I can appreciate the intent behind encouraging mindfulness of our thoughts through a biblical lens, but I found many of the examples came from a place of privilege that made it difficult to fully connect. While this book may resonate with others and offer meaningful insights, for me, it felt like something I was just trying to get through.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one didn't hit home for me. The focus of the book wasn't quite what I was expecting, and a lot of her examples made the book feel like this was a work of the author working through her personal problems. The beginning started great and I highlighted a lot. But as it went on, I found myself just trying to get through it. I'm glad it's been a help to most of it's readers, just wasn't for me.

[Kelly Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Every Thought Captive is so good! I couldn't stop highlighting the good stuff within it! This book is excellent for anyone struggling with negative or intrusive thoughts. I love that this book offers Christ-centered, practical steps to help us recognize those thoughts so we can reign them in.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly writes with honesty and practicality. She's been in the trenches of thought life struggles. Her strategy in Ch. 10 is perfect for the struggles I face right now. I'm printing out her method and taping it to my bathroom mirror for daily guidance. Thank you, Kelly, for your biblical solutions to thought-life problems!

[Tammy Kennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Every Thought Captive is an encouraging, practical book for the woman who wants to overcome unruly or unwelcome thoughts. Sharing from her own life, Kelly deals with such topics as loneliness, rejection, and the perception of lack. This book is so good that I plan to buy one for my young adult daughter. It's worth every penny!

[Dotti Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library, and now I need to purchase my own copy to refer to again and again! What an excellent resource to recognize thoughts that need to be captured and realigned to the mind of Christ - which we have already been given, as Christians! So good - I highly recommend this book!

[Heidi Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provided practical strategies for taking every thought captive, even some I am personally experiencing right now. Appreciated how the author was so transparent in providing specific scenarios through her own life. Probably one of the best books as “how to” do this and not just taking about it.,

[Angela Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to be healed?

For someone who struggles with anxiety daily. This book is a must read. I have truly been blessed by reading it. Release all the worries and lies kept deep within my mind, I have learned ways to do this through this book. Thanks Kelly for writing this book.

[Serena Yount · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved how bold her writing style was. Took so long because we went through it week by week with a group of other women.

Biggest take away - learning to ask myself the question: “whose voice is speaking to me?”
God, Satan, or self?

[Carleene Hibbs Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This is the first book I have read from this author but it is a subject that I am very interested in. Learning to take every thought captive to Christ is a lifelong journey. This is such a well written book and I would have to say it is more than a book. This is not a book you sit and casually read, this is an interactive book. It requires you to do some searching and wrestling with your thoughts and with the word of God. I appreciate the free downloads that are available throughout this book, so you can really work things out. There is a lot of instances that I could relate to and others that maybe I just haven't had to deal with yet, but maybe I will in the future. Regardless, the steps that are shown as you take thoughts captive would work on anything. I loved this book so much I have already told another friend about it and I am hoping to purchase a physical book for myself.
Thank you to the author for being so open and vulnerable, for taking the time to really think on these issues and to patiently show us the way to draw near to God, to use scripture to point us in the right direction and to learn how to capture thoughts that draw us away from truth.

Highly recommend this book!!

[Gladys Childs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and Biblical. I love books which are actually helpful. This is one you won't regret purchasing.

[Collene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you.

Wow! There is so much in this book. Thank you Kelly. Look forward to reading more books by you. Awesome.

[Stephanie (Skyy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book to be quite enjoyable. The author's guidance on capturing your thoughts through the provided steps is something I plan to incorporate into my life.

[Jennifer Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I enjoyed reading it and will read it again.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly so powerful! It had me thinking about my thought process in a whole new way. It opened my eyes to the power of our thoughts and what it really means to take every thought captive. I highly recommend this book!

[Linda Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a book that explains the science of the brain’s plasticity in concrete action steps, helpful examples, prompts for your own journey and is easy to read and understand. This should be required reading for life! You know that negative tape record I your head? This book will teach you exactly how to re-record it and defeat the lies once and for all! Praise Jesus and praise Kelly for allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through her in this book.

[DL (Donna) Rudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts.
God's word.
The enemy taunts our minds through what he puts in our mind to thwart our day and future.
The enemy of our soul is a liar.

Kelly has done another book, straight from the soul of God, and His word to ENCOURAGE us to LIVE in FULLNESS of God and he gives us life to LIVE and not be downcast.

A must read.