Am I Casting Down Vain Imaginations and Arrogant Opinions?

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While doing some Bible study on the book of 2 Corinthians - I was thinking about what 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 says. Here are three translations I took from the King James Version (which I use by default and my favorite Calvinist translation), the English Standard Version (which is another Calvinist translation) and the New International Version (NIV):
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (KJV) 
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV) 
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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. (NIV)

I think how often my vain imaginations (or referred to as arguments in other translations) and very high opinion (or pretensions which means an allegation of doubtful value). Am I casting them down often or am I letting them take over me? So many times my pride leads me to the wrong path. How often have I refused to forgive and hit the other person back because of my pride? How often have I imagined (and sinned in the process) of hurting, mutilating, or even murdering someone because I'm very angry at that certain someone for injuring my pride? How often am I tempted to do someone harm over something that wasn't life-threatening? The big problem with my vain imaginations and arrogant opinions is my selfish pride.

The struggle is still there and it's a daily battle. Why do I become disobedient more often than not? It's because I try to cast them down with my own strength when I can't. Zechariah 4:6 says that it's not by might nor by power but by the Holy Spirit. How can I trust myself who grew up with the habit of sin? How can I be more obedient? It's to ask God for that strength. If God can save my soul through His Son the Lord Jesus then He can save me too from my bad habits. Matthew 1:18 says that Jesus came to save His people from their sins. How can I continue trusting myself to cast down my bad habit of arguing without end and being high-minded if I was so used to such habits? I can't and I must trust God to keep humbling me because my flesh produces new sins on a daily basis. The only difference is I've got a restrainer but how often am I fighting that restraining power of the Holy Spirit?

Trusting myself is a certain road to suicide. Proverbs 3:5-6 says that leaning on my own understanding is suicide. Why are paths not straight? It's because my own understanding is wicked and stupid. People aren't born wise. Romans 1:22 says that sinful people think they're so wise but they're in fact, fools. Hurtful truth? Yes, but the hurtful truth must be told as it is as gently and lovingly as possible. But how can I trust myself who's so used in arguing and arrogance, to tell the truth with love and gentleness? I can't except by the power of God. Can I trust myself to forgive people who are unkind to me when I grew up with a lot of vengeful thoughts? Once again, the answer is no because I just can't trust myself at all!

That's why I also started throwing away a lot of old, useless research. Some old researches I've done are still good but others are better off cast away as vain imaginations and arrogant opinions. Many of them include reviews of satanic media (and there's so much of it) and allegations of Illuminati here and there. Searching for occult symbolism and immorality in today's wicked entertainment is like trying to pluck leaves instead of cutting down the tree. If you know it's evil and contains evil then why bother even reviewing it? A pornstar claiming to be a Christian should be rejected as a bogus testimony so why even bother making a master list? False preachers will expose themselves by their teachings. The vain opinions are simply putting me away from studying Biblical truth and focusing too much on the lies of the Devil. What's the use of studying and knowing about the lies of the Devil if one's knowledge in Biblical truth is a butterknife or a rusted knife? It won't do anyone any good. Arrogance too is a big problem that has done too much harm and hardly any good. All these old, useless research that will not do anything for God's greater glory is best thrown off for good. 

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