Mentoring Moment #2
Win the battle for your mind.
What if every thought you had today was recorded and played back to you? What if it were played back to your family, friends, or community? Pretty frightening to consider, isn’t it?
Our minds are powerful and what we think shapes who we are and how we live. And, whether we want to admit it or not, we have power over what we allow our minds and hearts to dwell on. That doesn’t mean we control every thought that enters our minds, but we can learn to think properly and live well. I want to encourage you today that you can take every thought captive through the power of Christ.
Start today by deciding that you are going to change the thoughts that occupy and dominate your mind. The Word of God says this is possible so begin praying and relying on God to transform your heart and mind.
“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 NIV
Do you believe that this is possible? Do you believe that you can live in victory? The first part of believing this is possible is realizing that we don’t do this in our power but through the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus gives you His accomplished work on the cross; He has defeated sin and death. It is from this place that you now fight for the battle of your mind.
So, what does this practically look like? Pastor Louis Giglio offers a straightforward approach that we can all lay our hands on.
Identify any deceptive thought in your mind. You must see that thought for what it is: a harmful lie. It’s far too easy to coddle the thoughts that enter your mind. You are far too agreeable with your thought life. I know I am. You have to examine that thought and say, “Hey, before you pitch a tent in my mind, let me take a good, hard look at you. Because when I look at you, I don’t think you’re congruent with the Word of God. And if you’re not compatible with what God says, then God didn’t send this thought my way. Get out!”
Bind that thought in Jesus’ name. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When a questionable thought enters your mind, ask yourself if that thought lines up with the righteous character of God or what’s stated plainly in Scripture. If it doesn’t, bind that thought in the name of Jesus Christ.
Change the narrative of your story with Scripture. Memorize Scripture and then replay Scripture in your mind. Exchange the deceptive thoughts for thoughts of truth. Familiarize yourself with what the Bible says and then repeat God’s truth to yourself again and again so you know without a doubt what the truth is, and so you can stay on the path of truth.
The Bible indicates that you can play offense with your thought life. Instead of playing defense with the harmful thoughts that come your way, take action and deliberately place helpful thoughts into your mind. Here are categories to think about from Philippians 4:8: Whatever is... true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
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