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

Auxiliary Scholarship Second Place Award - 2026

Mara Bakke

The concept of “taking something captive,” by definition, is to subjugate it–to enforce power and authority over it. In a world where people often feel powerless in the face of temptations and desires, the ability to control one’s thoughts may seem foreign. It may seem like one has no control over what passes through or occupies one’s mind. The phrase “take every thought captive” contains the imperative command “take.” It assumes that thoughts will come, but it does not condemn having tempting or negative thoughts. Rather, it implies the choice of how to manage it.

“Taking every thought captive” is a daily battle in my life. Specifically, I have struggled with negative inner dialogue. I recognize that not every thought that enters my mind is of the Lord, and I must rely on His power to “take it captive.” Another way I picture it is to put an ungodly thought in its proper place. I cannot change a thought that has already entered my mind, but I must choose what I do with it. It is important to be discerning and “test every spirit” against the truth of God’s Word, because the Devil’s lies and my thought life often do not match reality (1 John 4:1). The power of the thought life is that of the tongue, with the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Consequences of an unhealthy headspace have manifested in harmful thought patterns and in fleshly temptations in my life–both of which have been challenging to conquer. An analogy I have found helpful in “taking every thought captive” is picturing the mind as a forest (credit: Impact Christian Ministries). When any thought comes to mind, I can choose to follow that thought down to its natural end, such as dwelling on a temptation or berating myself for a mistake I made. This is like carving a path through the forest. Every time I mentally “walk” down that road, the path becomes easier and easier to travel. In contrast, it becomes much harder to choose to walk elsewhere. It may seem impossible to escape the mental spiral of an old habit, but the forest analogy can be applied to both thoughts and temptations. The Bible warns us of this when it says, “as a man thinketh, so he is” and, “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Proverbs 27, Luke 6). Even though my thoughts are hidden from others, they influence my character: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed” (Luke 8:17). Practically speaking, I have found it helpful to use physical prompts to shift my focus away from the problematic thought. For one of my triggers, I will briefly close my eyes, gently shake my head “no,” and pray to God. I acknowledge the hard moment, thank Him for the beauty I can see in it, and ask for His help to give me the proper perspective rather than allowing Satan to twist what is good and true.

Paul admonishes Christians to affix their thoughts on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). As the Lord works in my life, I see that some of the most revealing moments in my thought life are not when things go well but when the world turns upside down. My inner thoughts reveal much about my spiritual health, such as when I see someone else getting recognition I thought I deserved or when others have less mindful lifestyle habits, yet I am the one who ends up with health problems. Those gut reactions are not wrong, but it would be wrong to cultivate those attitudes. The phrase “taking every thought captive” does not condemn us for the thought. Rather, it uses military language to acknowledge how challenging, intense, and messy the battle over our minds can be. Mara Bakke is a student at Palmer University in Davenport, IA and plans to graduate in October of 2027.

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