Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Pro 23:7). This doesn’t mean, as some teach, that I can think prosperity and blessings into my life. Rather, the basic idea underscores the importance of one’s thoughts. Note that mind, thoughts, and thinking are forms of the same root word. The mind is the control center of life. It determines who we are, what we believe about God, how we relate to others, how we handle situations, and through the mind we control our life. In other words, our mind and thoughts regulate everything about us. Outside influences can affect our thinking nevertheless with the mind we determine how we react. Satan attacks us through our thoughts. J. Oswald Sanders gave this insight, “The mind of man is the battleground on which every moral and spiritual battle is fought.”
Here are several ways the devil wars against people’s thoughts. He blinds the minds of non-believers. The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Co 4:4); But their minds were blinded [or hardened] (2 Co 3:l4 NKJV). ). Paul takes this battle of the mind all the way back to the Garden of Eden But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2Co 11:3). Satan hurls untrue thoughts at us every day through what we see, hear, read, and experience. Like a virus trying to invade our computers, his goal is to reprogram our thinking pattern and establish a stronghold (2 Cor 10:4). A stronghold, used only here, means an opposing bulwark of error or vice. Paul employs it to indicate an incorrect thinking pattern based on lies.
Salvation begins with repentance which literally means to change our mind, to undergo a change in frame of thoughts, or to think differently. God knew the tactics the devil would use again believers and sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. Jesus assured His disciples, when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth (Jn 16:13) and He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (v14:26). For every lie the devil throws at us from the outside, we have the Holy Spirit within us teaching and guiding us into truth. The Spirit empowers us to choose and live out the truth. Even if a stronghold has built up in a believer, through the Spiritthey possess divinely powerful [weapons] for the destruction of a stronghold (Cor 10:4).
God has given all these and more assurances, but it begins and continues by the choices we make in our mind. Joshua expressed the idea of choice well, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord“ (Jos 24:15). Martha made a choice to stay in the kitchen and work, but Mary choose to listen to Jesus teach. When Martha complained she had no help, He criticized her choice and commended Mary’s decision. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:42). “Our defeat or victory begins with what we think, and if we guard our thoughts, we shall not have much trouble anywhere else along the line” (Vance Havner). We must choose to set our mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth (Col 3:2). Peter says, therefore, prepare your minds for action (1 Pet1:13).
So we might ask how do we change we way we think? First, let the word of Christ richly dwell within you (Col 3:16). In order to do this we must put His Word into our mind. Satan takes advantage of any believer who is ignorant of the Word. This doesn’t mean going to Bible College, but daily reading and studying the Word. He will transform usby renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). New Living Translate states it clearly, don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. A scribe asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law” (Mat 22:36)? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (v37). The word used for mind is also translated thoughts. Love the Lord with. . . all your thoughts.
We sometimes say to someone deep in thought, ‘A penny for your thoughts’. No penny, but I would ask what are you thinking as you read this? What are you going to feed your mind today—negativity, gossip, unclean talk, vile entertainment, etc.? Paul gives us a starting list on what we can think: 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 (Phi 4:8). It won’t happen overnight, but you can change your pattern of thoughts.
Sustaining Word for the Week: With your mind, make a decision you are going to allow the Holy Spirit to change the way you think.