Captive to Christ

Thank you for praying for me this week. I've spent most of the past four days sleeping. This round has seemed to go better than the others. Some say it's because I'm an old pro, and I guess there is some truth to that. I have learned over these weeks to just sleep, and keep sleeping, and let my body recover. I don't need to get up and try to get things done around the house. It can wait for next week.


But I have become convinced that although I may be an old pro, the difference this week has been due to something else.


With every treatment I have experienced extreme nausea. It is like a motion sickness. If I don't move, I don't feel it; but the moment I move my body I begin to gag and feel very sick. With every treatment I receive two IV drugs that combat nausea. They work on my digestive system. I also take a pill to combat nausea which turns off the nausea receptors in my brain. I also have anti-nausea pills I can take at home as well as an anti-nausea compound that can be rubbed on my wrists. We shut off the nausea physically, and mentally, but somehow I would still be incredibly sick with each treatment.


So, this week I decided that it must be a spiritual battle. I wasn't sure exactly how to fight this battle but pulled out a verse that I memorized many years ago.


"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." 2 Corinthians 10:5


I've never really been sure how to take my thoughts captive to Christ, but I thought it was worth a shot! First thing Monday morning, before I even got out of bed, I began to pray about my treatment this week; that it would accomplish what it was supposed to accomplish in my physical body - the destruction of any random cancer cells floating around - and I began to pray about the nausea issue. I just said out loud that I was taking every thought of nausea, every urge to gag, and anything related to to it captive to Christ.


I didn't think much about it until Monday afternoon after having five hours of chemicals pumped into my body. Before I even left the doctor's office I was feeling sick, but with each wave of nausea I began repeating in my mind that I was taking that thought captive to Christ. The most amazing thing happened! Every single time I fought the nausea by repeating God's Word, it went away! I know that sounds weird, and I can't explain it except to say that His Word is powerful. I obviously need to tap into that power more in my life!


So, to anyone else out there struggling with your thought life, I encourage you to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Like me, you may be surprised by the power He has given us!




Family update:

The Shook family welcomed the birth of Maggie Shook today, the daughter of Mark's brother, Brent, and his wife, Audrey, and our new niece! Mother and baby are doing well!!