8: Winning the War with Your Mind

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

ROMANS 12:2

THERE IS A DEADLY WAR happening between God and Satan, and the battleground is your mind. Satan wants to conquer and control your thought life.

Part of the battle for your mind is related to emotions, as unchecked negative thoughts can lead to depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, one out of six people will experience depression at some time in their life.[1] This is especially true for the 55+ demographic.

Here are four strategies that will move you from a defensive position to an offensive role.

  1. Pay attention to your thoughts. Culture bombards us with many words, ideas, and philosophies. We add even more to our overcrowded minds through our habits online. Ask yourself:
    • Do my thoughts line up with what I believe about Jesus?
    • Do my thoughts conform to His Word?
    • Am I thinking about Jesus’ Good News, or am I thinking about what I’m hearing and reading from others?
  2. The Holy Spirit makes known to us what is true of God. Bring your thoughts into submission to the Spirit’s guidance. Reflecting on God’s Word, ask yourself:
    • Are my thoughts true or untrue?
    • Do my thoughts come from the enemy or the Holy Spirit’s conviction?
    • What truths about Jesus do I need to remember right now?
  3. Pay attention to the fruit of the Spirit. Read Galatians 5:22-23 when the battle of your mind intensifies. If the fruit of your thinking doesn’t resemble the fruit of the Spirit, then it isn’t from God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you change your thinking so your thoughts and actions will be rich with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
  4. Fight back. The most significant weapon in the Roman warrior’s arsenal was his loinbelt. The loinbelt held all of his weaponry together. If it wasn’t in place, the soldier was in big trouble. It could cost him his life. The Christian’s loinbelt is the Bible. Paul writes, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). As long as the Word of God is central in your life, the rest of your spiritual armor will be effective. The moment we begin to ignore God’s Word and stop applying His principles, we will find that the devil’s attacks will infiltrate our mind and he will fill our head with lies and negative thinking. Let the Bible be your governor, the final say-so in all of your thoughts.

So get out there and go on the offensive. Go to war. Focusing on Jesus will mean there is no room for the dirty, wicked, lustful, prideful thoughts that come at us. Center your mind on Jesus. You will have victory, not because I write these words but because you have access to the power of God.

Questions

  1. What battles do you fight in your mind?
  2. What hurdles do you face that makes fighting the battle difficult? What could you do to overcome these hurdles?
  3. How could a daily time in God’s Word equip you to fight the battle in your mind? If you do not currently spend time reading God’s Word daily, what could you do to establish this practice?