The Battle of the MindEveryone has to fight the battle that goes on in the mind. Our thought lifedetermines where we are in the things of God. When people meditate on what iswrong or the negative side of a situation, they become blinded by the problemand never see the escape available to them. Our Heavenly Father has given us away to bring forth light, and that is through diligent study and meditation ofthe Word of God. In Hosea 4:6 God tells us, "My people are destroyed for lack ofknowledge."As Christians we are going to have to learn how to apply Bible knowledge to ourlives, if we want to win the battles of life. God instructs the Believer on howto control their thought life by utilizing His whole armor. Ephesians 6:10-17says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of Hismight. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against thewiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take upthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, andhaving done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet withthe preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faithwith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Andtake the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word ofGod;"The Apostle Paul uses armor, the battle dress of the first-century Romansoldier, as a metaphor for God's spiritual armor. Clearly, the military metaphoris intended to show that we are engaged in an active battle. Therefore,Believers must recognize that they are in warfare everyday, and that thebattlefield is our minds. The whole armor of God has been provided to help usguard against the enemy of our mind--Satan. Satan's only weapon against us isthrough the mind. If he can put thoughts, ideas and suggestions in our minds,then he can control our actions. We must come to understand that ignorance ofthe Word and victory over life's battles are impossible roommates.If we desire the overcoming life of Jesus then we will need to "take up thewhole armor of God." We are not to focus in on only part of the armor to theneglect of the other combat coverings, if we do so we will find ourselvesdefeated. It is the whole armor-knowledge of the Word of God-that gives us thevictory. We need to take each piece of the armor as illustrated by Paul andapply them to our life so that we can benefit from its protection.Family, it is critical that we acknowledge that the warfare is not againstphysical forces but against powers that have authority in the spirit realm. Paulnot only warns the Believer of a clearly defined demonic structure, but alsoinstructs us to take up the whole armor of God in order to maintain a battlestance against these unseen forces.Satan's mode of operation has not changed. He continues to use the same mindgame that he used on Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). We are going tohave to recognize his deceptive ways and stand against them with the Word ofGod.Our battle is clearly spiritual. Satan launches assaults on the mind in order toaffect the spiritual aspect of our lives. The mind is like the door throughwhich the enemy has access. If Satan can influence our thoughts, he can controlevery aspect of our lives. Therefore, we must examine every thought that comesto our minds. Are they the fiery darts, the evil day and or the wiles of thedevil? Every thought has either a life or death component attached to it. Once athought is allowed to have access in our lives, it begins its subtle work.This is the reason God tells us in Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore,brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a livingsacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do notbe conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
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