Message Library

The Battle for Our Minds

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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Our minds are our thoughts and Satan wants to control our minds through our flesh, while the Lord wants to control our minds through the Holy Spirit. Our minds reveal our hearts which determine the eternal destination of our souls. We are created in the image of God. Therefore, we are created to have the mind of Christ. Satan tempts our minds to follow our fleshly desires instead of following the Spirit.

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 (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is the key verse in learning to control our thoughts and overcoming our fleshly sinful desires. We capture each sinful thought and immediately change that thought to a Godly one. This takes training and can be achieved by writing, speaking to someone, or by doing something that requires new thoughts. Over time capturing our thoughts becomes easier and we can destroy our sinful thoughts by changing our thinking. Recognize this battle is with Satan as he attempts to pull our minds towards our fleshly desires.

As our minds are renewed toward the ways of God it becomes easier to control our thinking. What we think about the most gets wired into our brains, and our minds normally reflect what is stored there. Picture a sinful thought being wired into your mind because it will help you to overcome that thought.

Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Always ask the Lord to help you control your thoughts, especially when a toxic, sinful thought occurs. If you know you are going to experience an attack by Satan from a certain temptation, pray in advance for the power of God to take away the sinful desire. You will find it amazing how much it helps to pray in advance to overcome a future temptation.

Although there is a war going on to capture your mind, remember it’s your mind and you have the power to control it. You have the power to control your thoughts. When we learn to control our thoughts we gain control of our emotions because changing our thoughts can change our emotions. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Don’t let Satan take away your freedom by pulling your mind into sinful, fleshly desires. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12). Fight for your mind and choose victory through the power of God, because Satan wants to destroy you for all eternity.

Today, win the battle of your mind, knowing you have the power of God to overcome. Live in victory over Satan and his evil ways. Reflect the power of God to the world by living in victory and destroying Satan’s temptations and the fear he creates in this world.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to control my mind by keeping my thoughts on you. If I remain connected to you through my thoughts there will be little room for Satan’s temptations. Mold me to be Christ-like and have more power to fight the battle for my mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen