We … take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Clean up your negative self-talk. That’s the message a brain surgeon has for you.
A veteran neurosurgeon warns that negative self-talk is much more than just a bad habit. Thoughts change our brains, the doctor says. “The stuff you say to yourself turns into structural changes that your brain makes.” Those changes “begin to automate thoughts and feelings that feed back and make you believe that those things that you say to yourself are actually true.”
Scientific discovery often highlights wisdom that God, the master designer of our brains, wanted us to know all along. In the Bible’s New Testament, we’re urged to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV). God knew that we’d let our thoughts spiral out of control and that the things we think about can become what actually happens in our lives.
Our thoughts are so important that the Bible contains a list of things we should think about in place of negativity. Scripture says, “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” (Philippians 4:8 ESV).
The brain surgeon calls this “self-brain surgery” and says, “This is hard and holy work. Talk to yourself inside your head like you would talk to somebody you love—not your enemy.”[1]W. Lee Warren (@drleewarren), Instagram Reel, August 3, 2026, Instagram The instruments needed for this procedure are truths God has already given you about who you are: you are fully known, fully loved and chosen for relationship with Him (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:9). When your self-talk says otherwise, go back to what Scripture says is true.
What have you been telling yourself lately? Is it true? Take that thought captive. Replace it with what God says is true.
