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March 26, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n Getting off the Well-Worn Path<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note:<\/em><\/strong> Don\u2019t skip a single day this week. From March 23-27, each devotion includes a never-before-seen excerpt from Lysa TerKeurst\u2019s first prayer book,\u00a0<\/em>Come Close to Jesus. Trust us \u2014 you\u2019ll want to read every one.<\/em><\/p>\n Many years ago, a friend shared with me that she\u2019d rarely heard a word of praise from either of her parents. They weren\u2019t overtly critical, yet they made it clear that she missed the mark for their standard of good.<\/p>\n They would say things like, \u201cToo bad you got that one bad grade on your report card; otherwise, you would have been on the dean\u2019s list.\u201d What might seem like a minor comment from her parents turned into the well-worn path of I\u2019m not good enough<\/em> in her mind.<\/p>\n My friend was 40 years old when she told me this, so that soundtrack had been playing in her head for a long time. And that not-good-enough story was holding her back from the hopes and dreams she had for her life \u2014 and the plans God still has for her life.<\/p>\n Maybe you can relate. Or maybe your soundtrack sounds more like this:<\/p>\n I fail at everything I do.<\/em><\/p>\n If it\u2019s not perfect, it\u2019s not good at all.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019m too much!<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019m such an inconvenience.<\/em><\/p>\n I can\u2019t count on anyone else to help me or protect me.<\/em><\/p>\n Today\u2019s key verse tells us what to do with thoughts that hinder us from moving forward in God\u2019s purpose: \u201cWe 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\u201d<\/em> (2 Corinthians 10:5).<\/p>\n First, we demolish<\/em> thoughts.<\/strong> Notice how forceful that word is. When I picture a building being demolished, I picture something blowing up until it\u2019s completely gone. We need to do the same thing with lies.<\/p>\n Remember that the enemy wants to make us forget what Jesus says about us and to prevent us from glorifying Him. We have to call on the God of angel armies to do battle and use His strength to destroy lies.<\/p>\n Second, we take thoughts captive<\/em>.<\/strong> We are thinking something at all times, so let\u2019s make sure those thoughts reflect what God thinks. If, like my friend, you\u2019ve believed the same lie for a long time, that lie has likely created a well-worn path in you mind too. Our brains naturally take the path of least resistance, but if we replace those lies with Truth from God\u2019s Word, we can create some Jesus-powered resistance that will help us get off the old path and onto the new path God has for us.<\/p>\n Yes, we can \u201cbe transformed by the renewing of [our] mind\u201d<\/em> (Romans 12:2, NIV). We can create new paths of thinking. What hope for our hearts today!<\/p>\n God of angel armies, when I become aware of a thought that doesn\u2019t line up with Your Truth, help me develop the practice of taking that thought captive to You. I want to release the lies to You in exchange for Truth from Your Word. When I think,\u00a0<\/em>I\u2019m not good enough, remind me that\u00a0<\/em>\u201cI am fearfully and wonderfully made\u201d\u00a0(Psalm 139:14, NIV). I know I have an enemy, and the battle to believe and act on Your Truth is a spiritual battle. So, Father, I\u2019m asking for all Your strength and power to come against the lies of the enemy, especially the ones I\u2019ve repeated for so long. Honestly, Lord, I\u2019m tired of listening to that soundtrack. I\u2019m tired of it holding me back. I don\u2019t want the hopelessness, insecurity, fear, and depression that the lies bring into my life. I want You and Your peace to rule in my heart and mind. Please help me think in a new way. A truth-filled way. In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n P.S.<\/strong> Mark your calendar for Holy Week (March 29-April 5). For eight days, we\u2019ll pause together to steady our hearts in the finished work of Jesus \u2014 one scripture and one quiet reminder at a time.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a moment many women never talk about. The one where it\u2019s 2 a.m., the house is quiet, and sleep won\u2019t come because her mind won\u2019t stop. She\u2019s replaying a conversation, worrying about someone she loves, trying to pray \u2014 but everything feels tangled. She whispers, \u201cLord, I don\u2019t even know what to say.\u201d And she hopes that\u2019s enough. Women write to our prayer wall from this exact moment \u2014 not polished, not put together, just awake with a heart they don\u2019t know how to carry. When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you step into that moment with her. You help make sure she\u2019s met with Scripture and prayer instead of silence. Come Close to Jesus<\/em> was created for nights like these, offering simple, steady, Scripture-shaped prayers when her own words run out. Give today and help a woman know she\u2019s not alone in the middle of the night.<\/strong><\/p>\n Find everyday encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.<\/p>\n Romans 12:2, \u201cDo not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\u2019s will is\u2014his good, pleasing and perfect will\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n What negative thoughts have you been ruminating on? Ask the Lord to help you identify verses in Scripture that you can declare each time one of those lies comes into your mind. In the comments, we\u2019d love to hear which verses you\u2019re clinging to.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
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