There is an Intense Battle for Your Mind

There is a war going on, but it's not in the physical realm. It's one that's happening in your mind—in the seat of your emotions—that's wrestling to hold onto peace in the face of anxious circumstances. It's a war that tries to pull your attention away from thinking God thoughts to ones devoid of His truth. The battle can be intense and God wants to help you have victory in this crucial area of your spiritual journey.

Why the Mind?

Why is the devil putting forth so much effort to influence and overcome the minds of believers with his cunning lies? Because he knows that everything starts with a thought.

Often, he will try to slip a thought that's out of line with God's Word through your brain into your mind and see if you will take hold of it, accept and entertain it, and bring it into your heart.

The enemy attacks subtly (or outrightly) in the mind, because he knows he knows that if he can get you to start entertaining this thought in your mind and in your heart, that you will start producing words. Once those words are released, they start to turn into actions and then, when full-grown, those wrong actions give birth to a stronghold and ultimately, death.

The Devil's "M.O." is Filling the Heart with Wicked Thoughts:

In John 13:2, the Bible shows a scene unfolding with Judas Iscariot. It says, "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him."

How did the devil put this idea of betraying Jesus into Judas' heart? The enemy planted a thought like a seed and because Judas coddled that thought and started to dwell on it and entertain it, the roots of it got down deep into his heart and it sprang to life something that was truly devastating—in Jesus' life and in his own.

The same happened with Ananias and Sapphira. When Peter confronted Ananias, he asked, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to The Holy Spirit...?"

Jesus was also tempted by the words of the devil: 

"The tempter came to Him and said..."

"If you are the Son of God," he said..."

"All this I will give you, "he said..."

The devil hoped that his words would take root in Jesus' mind and heart. But Jesus also responded differently than Judas, Ananias, and Sapphira did—He put a stop to the tempter's words at the starting gate—He took the words that the enemy had spoken and suggested to His thoughts and stopped them before they could come any further: 

"Jesus said to him, "Away from Me, satan!"

Instead of allowing the enemy's thoughts to fill Him, Jesus used HIS words to shut the devil down: "Away from Me!"

The House in My Head:

I asked The Holy Spirit to help me one time when I felt the relentless attack of the enemy on my mind and when I was praying, I saw a house. He explained to me that the house is like my mind. When the enemy comes with a thought, it's like a visitor coming to the front door with a package.

If I'm in the flesh, I am allowing that visitor (the devil, a demon, a temptation through thought or person) and his package (his wicked thought or idea) in and start entertaining him in the foyer (my brain).

If he succeeds in being entertained in the foyer, then it's easier for him to come kick his feet up in the living room (my mind)...and while my defenses are down, I might be tempted to put that package he has away in the bedroom closet (my heart) and let him sleep in my bed "just" for the night. 

The problem with that is the visitor might come in the appearance of an angel of light, but there is really a wolf in sheep's clothing waiting to devour my mind and heart, and because I don't stop it at the door of my mind, I don't recognize that that what I'm letting in is a visitor with nefarious plans to harm me and my relationship with God.

Sometimes the thoughts seem innocent, but really aren't: 

• "I deserve to be forgiven." Reality: We all sin and have fallen short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
• "I have a right to be get back at her--she hurt me." Reality: Sinning in our anger gives the devil a foothold - Ephesians 4:26-27
• "It's okay if I sin--God will forgive me." Reality: God will forgive you when you truly repent, but the Bible cautions against taking advantage of God's grace and using it to sin more - Romans 3:5

The thought that was allowed in starts to reek and stink. The disgusting smell starts to permeate the whole house of my heart and mind. When I open the windows, the putrid smell starts to get "aired out" to those around me and they start to smell the junk that's been hidden down deep inside the recesses of my heart.

Catch Thoughts Before They Create Chaos for You:

Matthew 15:19 says, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts."

The word used for "thoughts" in this passage is from the Greek word, "dialogismos," which indications internal debate. It's not a fleeting thought, but a "chewing on" kind of thought. When the devil directly or indirectly comes and presents a thought to your mind, it's just an idea at that point and you can do just as Jesus did and say, "Away from me, Satan!" and then use Scripture to send him running from you.

If you don't, and you let the enemy through the door of your mind and you start to entertain the evil thought or idea he has presented you with, it turns from a thought sitting on the outside of your mind and instead goes down deep into your mind and your heart and starts to affect your words and actions.

That's where sin starts. It's not a sin to have a wicked thought hit your mind. What is a sin is taking hold of that thought and entertaining it—Don't do it!

Seeds of wicked thoughts can be thrown at you, but don't let them get planted in your mind or heart. Be like Jesus and not like Judas—Jesus was presented with wicked thoughts through what satan spoke to Him and instead of entertaining them, He took those ideas captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) immediately before they could enter into His mind as thoughts for Him to chew on and consider.

On the contrary, Judas didn't take the thoughts entering into his mind captive and He not only betrayed Jesus to death, he ended up taking his own life in suicide as well.

Apply This In Your Own Life:

Take thoughts captive before they create chaos for you! Philippians 4:8 says to think on these things instead:

• True
• Noble
• Right
• Pure
• Lovely
• Admirable
• Excellent
• Praiseworthy

Example #1: 

• Incoming Evil Thought: A wicked thought just came to my mind! It is saying that my co-worker is so rude! How can she be that way? What a loser!

• Test It: Is this true? Is this a noble thought about her? Would I be right to think this thought about her? Is it a pure thought? Is it a lovely thought about her? (I think you're getting the point.....(wince)......It doesn't sound like this is a good thought to think.

• Take it Captive or Let it Through? I better take this one captive. It doesn't pass the Philippians 4:8 test! 

• Replace It: Instead, I can think, "My co-worker was really rude to me. Jesus said that those who have been forgiven much, love much, but that those who have been forgiven little, love little (Luke 7:47). She must really need the love of God to touch her heart. Luke 6:27-36 also says to love my enemies and to do good to those who hate me and to bless those who curse me and to pray for those who mistreat me. I'm going to pray for her because she really needs the love of The Lord to touch her life. Lord, I pray You pour Your love into her life. Please help her to experience what a great love You have for her in a personal way. Let what comes up out of her be actions and words that have been touched by Your love. Amen."

Example #2: 

• Incoming Evil Thought: Intrusive thought alert! All of these awful, blasphemous thoughts about The Lord are coming in! I don't want or accept these thoughts!

• Test It: How does it pass the Philippians 4:8 test? It definitely doesn't!

• Take it Captive or Let it Through? Take it captive ASAP!

• Replace It: "God, I don't agree with this thought about You. I love You and thank You that You love me. I won't give into the temptation to speak out what the thoughts are trying to pressure me to speak! I don't agree with them and won't let them in my spirit because I love You!"

Example #3: 

• Incoming Good Thought: I can't seem to stop smiling today! God, thank You for so many blessings!

• Test It: How does it pass the Philippians 4:8 test? It passes all of them!

• Take it Captive or Let it Through? Keep this thought and hold tight to it!

• Store It, Meditate and Dwell on It: Let this one grow! "Lord, I thank You for Your amazing Goodness to me! I am so thankful that You are my Lord! I praise You for everything You've done and for all that You are in my life! I love you so much!"

Example #4: 

• Incoming Negative Thought: "How am I going to pay my bills, Lord? I'm stressing out because we don't have enough money!"

• Test It: How does it pass the Philippians 4:8 test? It may be a true thought that you don't physically have enough money, but is that a reason to be anxious? Is the anxious part true? No!

• Take it Captive or Let it Through? Capture it before it gets in.

• Store It, Meditate and Dwell on It: Dwell on God's Goodness instead: "Lord, You promised that You work all things together for my good. You said not to be anxious about anything but that in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to present my requests to You and that Your peace (which surpasses all understanding) will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your peace Lord. Thank You that You give Good gifts to Your children and will provide for me." 

When a thought comes into your brain, test it out with Philippians 4:8 before letting it into the foyer of your mind. You can't always control an evil thought hitting you, but you don't have to let it inside and entertain it. Stop it now before it becomes a "house guest!"