Battle For Your Mind!

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.  II Corinthians 10: 3-5

Dear Fellow Believers,

I have had such mental wrestling matches with my mind this week! Attention: There is a war around the clock for followers of Jesus Christ. Have you noticed how using the word ‘God’ in a conversation may be acceptable to a certain degree, but if you speak the name ‘Jesus’, the conversation becomes uncomfortable and people are offended? You can feel the intolerance happening and see it on their faces. In contrast, now hear this: our mind is thee vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to instruct and guide our steps. He gives us strength and wisdom, thereby enabling us to recognize the world’s system of thinking; along with discernment to know when our enemy is perpetrating his lies 24-7.

God provided armor knowing we would be in a relentless battle for control of our minds. Paul infers that one aspect of our mind, is that it in itself is a stronghold and satan wields the power of deception to grasp control of our minds! The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds and ‘casting down’ of imaginations, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ! We should shout hallelujah, amen!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. II Cor 10: 3-4 nas

A stronghold is usually held by an enemy. And we have one who is in constant tension to control our thinking. We must take seriously the need to renew our mind by saturating it with God’s word.

Realize our mind by nature is under the curse of the fall of mankind. Romans 1:28  describes our mind as depraved, other scripture states that our mind is blinded, darkened, and carnal. The carnal mind (Romans 8:7) is enmity against God. I remember those days and years. I was religious but not right with God. Now I am ‘in Christ’ and have the mind of Christ. I am so thankful that my mind was also redeemed and made new. But it is still the strategic center of satan to wage war on the saints with ferocity! His goal is to get us to make our Christian life about us instead of Jesus glory. He wants us unfruitful and discouraged.

Seriously our mind is the vehicle of the Spirit and it is absolutely necessary the Holy Spirit have full control, complete possession of our thought life. We must focus on Christ and His word so God can lead and bless others through us. When I came to Christ I was given a new heart and a new head. We must have our minds fully expunged and then, filled with Jesus ruling every thought.

Why is it that in spite of years of Bible study and church sermons, an abundance of truth, that so many of us struggle, and fail to verbalize or apply it to our lives? We are carnal. We should ask: where am I believing a lie, Father-God? Our carnal minds are unbelieving, our focus is the world and ourselves. The carnal mind, is like a car with plenty of gas, but one really flat tire. So also our minds are filled with a mixture of truth and the worlds system of thinking. This negates God using us as He desires, for we are going no place. Our minds need to be renewed.

So how can believers have our minds renewed? At salvation we are renewed to a degree. Now, how can I have a fully renewed mind? Repentance. This is a ‘change of mind’ on the one hand, and a change of heart on the other! As we count ourselves crucified with Christ we are told to ‘put off’ and ‘put on’…

that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Ephesians 4:22-23

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. II Corinthians 11:3

This is an act of faith.

Today give God your old mind and ‘trust’ Him to give you a renewed one.  Remember the enemy will not just walk away! He will not give up any ground easily. Ask God to hide you under His wing, hidden by the bloody pinions; the sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb of God. The mind remains a battle ground even following surrendering of every thought taken captive for Christ.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war,
 my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress,
 my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge,
 who subdues peoples under me.

God of compassion and grace, we long to have our minds renewed and be used by Your Holy Spirit to affect the lives of those who know and those who do not know You. Teach us daily to renew our minds in your Word! Thank You LORD, you are good. Jesus we love You. In Your name I pray,

Prayerfully,

az 

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