The 2026 CCA Auxiliary Scholarship

Christian Chiropractors Association 2550 Stover, B-102 Fort Collins, CO 80525 Toll Free: 800.999.1970 Local: 970.482.1404 Fax: 970.482.1538

Caden Christoffersen

Auxiliary Scholarship First Place Award 2026

What does it mean to take every thought captive? This question sounds so simple yet is so profound. Having heard the verse of 2 Corinthians 10:5 for many years, I struggled with this question in confusion. That was until the Lord once more opened my eyes, cleansed my heart, and refined me, so that I could better muster an answer. Taking every thought captive is not a simple action that a believer can all of a sudden decide to do; rather, the battle of taking every thought captive is a challenge involving the heart and soul that can be better fought by armoring one’s self with God’s Word, deeply pursuing his character, and meeting him through prayer.

First of all, the answer to any question or thought can be found by studying God’s Word. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17. I see this message directly applying to the battle against unholy thoughts today. The Bible is God’s Word and is a direct source of intimacy while being a weapon against sin and worldly thoughts. For the past five months, I have experienced this firsthand through reading the entire Old Testament. My fiancé and I noticed my Old Testament knowledge was lacking, so she challenged me to read the Old Testament in the six months before our wedding. Learning more of his Word through the Old Testament has allowed me to better take captive any thought that tries to infiltrate my soul. Furthermore, having a deep understanding of God’s character will allow a believer to better discern their thoughts. Knowing God is a pursuit and requires believers to intentionally seek out his character. His character can be seen in his Word, but it can also be seen in the world he has created. God is good, so I see everything on this Earth that is good as being created by him. For example, he made humans and called them very good. Humans that chase after the Lord are a direct reflection of his character. This is not confined to the borders of any nation or tribe. In June of 2025, God called me to a mission trip to Mongolia. I was excited to share his love to others from a different culture, but I could have never expected how God would bless me through the Mongolian Christian movement. I saw how God dwells everywhere as I watched Mongolian believers chase after God. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, turned to Jesus in times of trouble, and did not let their circumstances change their pursuit of the Lord. I learned how to not let struggles of this world infect my thoughts; instead, I learned how to rely on God’s character to take my thoughts captive instead of my own strength.

Lastly, God has given us direct access to him through the gift of prayer. All questionable thoughts and struggles need to be brought to prayer. As a student, it can be easy to let the pressure of this world distract me from the Lord. This is why prayer is so important to me. Before any exam when the stress feels unbearable, I find myself taking three deep breaths and resting in God’s presence. Instead of letting stress drown me, I turn to the presence of the Lord and ask for his strength. Prayer is not just for meal time. It is for each and every moment and is pivotal for taking a thought captive. To conclude, taking every thought captive is not a simple action but is instead a God-driven power that resides in all who believe in him. The Word of God dwells on this earth, his character can be seen across the globe, and intimacy with him is just a prayer away. By relying on the gifts he has given us, every thought can be taken captive, and we can know that the struggle against this world has already been won by Jesus Christ and the cross he overcame. Caden Christoffersen is a student at Palmer University in Davenport, IA. He plans to graduate in February of 2029.

“What Does It Mean to Take Every Thought Captive” by: Caden Christoffersen Palmer University (Iowa)