Think About What You’re Thinking About

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].–Romans 12:2 AMP

If I were to say to you today, “We’re at war!” you would, no doubt, look at me and say, “Well, DUH!” It doesn’t take a Rhodes scholar to see the evidence of such. All you have to do is turn on one of 100+ channels on your television, open up a newspaper, or right click on your favorite social media site and you’ll see it right there in every shade and color of death and destruction you can think of and some you can only imagine. Stories of violence..rivers of blood and fire…families torn apart and homelands destroyed. Soldiers returning home with parts of their bodies missing and for some their minds as well, reliving every minute as though it were still taking place. Horrors that the vast majority of us only visit in the worst of nightmares. Without a doubt, we are at war.

Now if I were to follow this up by saying that the war we are fighting is not a war of flesh, blood, and physical weaponry, you might follow that up with a series of peculiar looks, and believe me when I tell you I would so totally get it. However, my friends, I speak the truth. This is not a war as we know it. This is a war that rages daily, hourly, minute by minute, second by second. The battlefield? Your mind. The wager? Our enemy himself, Satan. The objective? To keep us from moving ahead in our walk with God and experiencing His promises. Everything in life begins with a thought both for good and for evil. Our minds, our thoughts is where truth often has a head on collision with lies. Every decision, every emotion, every experience and perspective dwells in our minds. Nothing puts a smile on Satan’s face more than if he can keep us stuck in the wilderness with a wilderness mentality, living discouraged, defeated, empty lives.

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to this particular battle and wrote very clearly in 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5, “The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ..”  This is the part of the equation our enemy hates! Why? Because we are not in this battle alone! We have an ally, the very Spirit of God who is there to help and to guide us. We have His word, the Scriptures, to study and meditate on, to draw us closer into deeper fellowship and wisdom. Take a journey over to Ephesians 4:21-24–“If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires,  and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude]and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].” Take a step back into Joshua 1:8–“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.”  

Renewing our minds is not just a step of faith. It is one that requires action. It’s not a “one and done” deal; it must be done continually, deliberately, and purposely. Renewing our minds allows us to experience the life promised to us in John 10:10–“the thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].  It allows us to experience peace, victory, and to know His will. The enemy does not care thing one about the number of Scriptures we have memorized or how colorfully underlined our Bibles are; are those Scriptures being applied to our every day lives? Is our perspective aligned with God’s? Are we seeing ourselves as He sees us? Are we exchanging truth for lies? Or are we talking back to the enemy, reminding him Whose we are as well as who we are? That is where the rubber meets the road, my friends!

Are you thinking about what you’re thinking about today?

Devotional Time

Take a moment in this time and reflect on not just the key verse but also the featured verses? Write your thoughts, reflections,  questions in your journal. Where in your thoughts do you need victory? In what areas do they need to be realigned with the Word of God? Ask Him to meet you here right now and to help you in these areas. In your journal write down every Scripture passage you can find dealing with the mind and thoughts. Record your reflections and any changes God brings about.