Todd hammered the final stake into the ground while Carl slid the rain fly over the tent. He glanced over the campsite to find the scouts in various states of setting up their tents. Pairing the younger scouts with the older scouts for tent setup was a brilliant move. It sure saved him from having to help all the younger scouts.

Later, he and the other leaders lingered over the dying campfire while the scouts retired to their tents. They were all worn out from the long hike, but someone had to wait by the fire until it was fully extinguished. At least he had friends to keep him company.

Carl poked at the fire and looked up at him. “How’s the diet going?”

Todd groaned. “Of all the things we can talk about, that’s what you ask?”

Carl shrugged. “You said it was important to your health to lose weight, so I was curious.”

Well, at least he had good intentions. “Honestly, it’s really rough. I think about food all the time. Ever since I started the diet, my brain is hyper-focused on what I can’t have.”

John frowned. “Tell me about it.”

Todd turned to John. “There’s no way you’re on a diet. You’re in great shape.”

John’s face reddened. “No, I’m not on a diet, but I understand trying to get your mind off something you can’t have.”

Carl laughed. “What’s the matter? Are you fantasizing about your secretary?”

John’s gaze darkened. “Don’t laugh. I love Dana, but there is a woman at work I can’t seem to get out of my head.”

Carl sobered. “Whoa, I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to make light of your problem. What are you going to do?”

John threw a stick into the embers of the fire. “I don’t know. I’m terrified of ruining my marriage, but I can’t control my thoughts.”

Carl held up a hand. “True. I’ve quit smoking 5 or 6 times already, but my brain keeps telling me I need a cigarette. If we could figure out how to control our thoughts, we’d all be living much happier lives.”

Steve, usually the quietest of the bunch, finally spoke up. “There is a way.”

Three heads snapped in his direction. Todd raised his eyebrows. “Are you saying there’s a way to control our thoughts?”

“Yes. Do you remember getting your first car?”

Todd shrugged. “Sure. It was a 1990 Honda Civic with 100K miles on it. The paint was worn, the seats were ripped, and it shook when I went over 50 mph, but I loved that car. It represented freedom.”

John chimed in. “Mine was my grandmother’s old Corolla. It didn’t have that many miles on it, but it smelled like old lady perfume. I remember the first time I took Dana out in it. She wrinkled her nose and asked me what girl I took out before her.”

Carl laughed. “Nice. Dana was jealous of your grandma.”

John punched him in the bicep. “At least I had a car in high school.”

Carl made a show of rubbing his arm. “True. I didn’t get a car until after my second year of college. It lasted me until I was 35. Katie finally made me get rid of it when the twins were born. But I loved that car.”

Todd turned back to Steve. “Why are we talking about cars?”

Steve smiled. “You just controlled what you were thinking about.”

John’s brow wrinkled. “You asked us about our cars. We couldn’t help thinking about them.”

“That’s the secret. Well, that and praying.”

Carl’s brow wrinkled. “What do you mean?”

Steve stared into the embers. “The Bible tells us to take every thought captive. If you find yourself thinking about food,” he nodded to Todd, “about your coworker,” he nodded to John, “or a cigarette,” he nodded at Carl, “you need to redirect your mind.”

John frowned. “It’s not that simple.”

Steve poked at the dying fire. “That’s where praying comes in. Ask God for help. He wants you to be healthy, Todd and Carl, and He wants you to remain pure in your marriage, John. It says in the Bible that temptations are common, but God will always give you a way to escape them. All the things you’re thinking about are temptations. Ask God to give you a way to escape them. Todd and Carl need to avoid the junk food and cigarettes, and John needs to stay away from the woman at work. Sometimes removing the temptation is the best way to be successful. And each time you’re successful in thinking of other things, your brain will get better and better at doing so.”

Three sets of eyes stared at Steve. Todd was the first to speak. “I think I might not want to eat a s’more tonight after all.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

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.

1 Corinthians 10: 13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

God, temptations surround us. In our own strength, we can’t handle them.  But You enable us to take every thought captive. Help us focus on what is pure and lovely, rather than the things that tempt us. What we feed grows, and what we don’t feed starves. That is true of our thought life as well. Help us feed the spirit-filled thoughts and starve the worldly desires. You say you will give wisdom to those who ask. Please, God, grant us wisdom in how to pursue the pure and lovely things You have for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.