Battlefield of the Mind

The Battlefield of Our Minds
(based on lessons from Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study “He Speaks to Me”)

Our minds are battlefields! Did you know that? Most of the time we try to fight these battles on our own and usually lose! Our frantic attempts to fix our own problems keep us from hearing God’s calming voice and from hearing His instructions to us.

2 Corinthians 10: 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;"

What forces in this verse oppose the “knowledge of God”?1] Imaginations. Sometimes we imagine we want things that are very impractical or even sinful. These thoughts can come from many places….things we see or hear….or even seemingly just out of nowhere.

2] High, exalted things opposing God. If we exalt…or lift up… things…or people…or ideas…above God, then we are in fact making idols of them. This will keep us from true knowledge of God.

What advice does it give us to remedy this?Bring our thoughts into captivity. We can’t just let any and every thought into our minds. Maybe we can’t stop it from appearing but we don’t have to let it set up housekeeping in our mind! The Bible says to take these thoughts captive. Take hold of them. Seize them. So that our thought life will be in obedience to Christ.

As we prepare to fight this battle for our minds we need a plan:

1] Who is our ENEMY?1 Peter 5: 8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"This verse makes it very clear that our enemy is the devil ! The devil will do anything to keep us from hearing from God. He is the one who is constantly putting these evil and negative thoughts in our heads.

2] What are our WEAPONS? Ephesians 6: 11-1711Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

We have no protection from the attacks that Satan brings against us unless we have this armor that God makes available to every Christian. It’s there for us. I don’t know about you but sometimes I am too lazy to pick up the armour God has provided and put it on! Isn’t that awful. It’s there for us if we will just trust God to cover us with it!

3] What is our BATTLE PLAN?Philippians 4: 8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."Our battle plan must be to cover our minds with God’s Word.Getting our minds under control is not a battle we can win once and for all. It’s a daily thing!

What six things does Philippians 4:8 suggest we fill our minds with?

1] Truth

2] Honesty

3] Justice

4] Purity

5] Loveliness

6] Good Reports

Mark 12: 24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?Jesus said that we don’t have the power of God because we don’t what? We don’t know the scriptures! We’re not spending enough time in God’s Word! I plead guilty! I know I have not been spending enough time in the Bible lately and it is showing up in my life. Think of the Scriptures as your SWORD and every time you feel your mind running away with wrong thoughts or imaginations, quickly stab those thoughts with the Word of God!Today, decide to use the armor God has made available to you. Use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to stab those bad thoughts that satan puts in your mind.

Tell the Lord that you desire to hear his voice clearly. We have a beautiful promise in Isaiah 26: 3…”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

May we do that today!

Marilyn