Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction Divine Footprints. In Psalm 77 Asaph spends a terrible night struggling with his problems. But he turns the situation around by taking his thoughts captive.
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.”
How do we take our thoughts captive?
1. We focus on God, not our troubles:
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. We pray with thanksgiving for two reasons:
We aren't thankful for the hardship, but we are thankful for (1) God's love and comfort and (2) His promise to use bad things for good.
We aren't thankful for the hardship, but we are thankful for (1) God's love and comfort and (2) His promise to use bad things for good.
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding [exceeding anything we can understand] , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
For additional insights on this subject, read "When Nothing Comforts" and "God's Unseen Footprints" and "5 Ways to Deal With Discouragement"
copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated and edited in 2025
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