by David Brenneman
Where does your mind often go?
Focus of thought is probably the most prolific problem to mankind today.
Between the natural, the medicinal, and the chemically induced reasons for it our thoughts are pushed towards the useless rather than the useful in our daily lives.
We have to be intentional in developing good thinking habits. We have to make ourselves aware of our surroundings in order to recognize the traps.
Oh and there are traps. The saying has been "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions".
Jesus said it another way “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
My biggest struggle in my morning and evening times that I dedicate to study and writing are all surrounded by thoughts that drift or invasive thoughts trying to grab my attention away from the purpose for which I am engaged...the study of God's Word.
What countless trillions of people don't get daily is how much the sin nature they are born with is absolutely against the learning that the Spirit is teaching them. They don't connect the dots. They don't see the Spiritual Picture. They don't believe there is a connection.
What does the Scriptures say?
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ” Ephesians 6:12.
“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. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-7.
It was an epiphany and a half to understand even a small portion of this battle within me. In my younger years I was heavily into science fiction, more specifically, Star Trek novels. Without ever once considering the connection, I could not figure out why I had novels mostly memorized of those stories but almost always fell flat on my face when it came to memorized Scripture. Still struggle with it. But I now understand far more deeply that the same Scriptures above explains why.
My sin nature wants nothing to do with the very Scriptures that have already signed its death warrant.
It's a war within the mind to take every thought captive.
It's a war every single Believer faces.
It's a war the unbelieving don't even recognize they're on the losing side of. To them it's the same as breathing. Without the light of Jesus Christ they see nothing, know nothing, and won't acknowledge anything that clashes with what they know to be their truth.
Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth?".
It's a very sad thing when most of the people of the world wouldn't recognize truth if it walked up and introduced itself.
We who are in Christ are in a spiritual war. We need to dig, fight, clawing our way some days more than others to stand firm in the Lord.
We also need to be learning to be more aware of the battle. What it is, what the weapons of the enemy look like. Most Christians have no idea what Satan's schemes are or what they are made to resemble.
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2.
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ” Colossians 3:2.
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3.
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
Suit up with the whole armor of God...because the battle is already past your doorstep...it's within your heart and mind.
Recognize it, go to God in prayer because of it. Be mindful of it.
Prepare for it.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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