Dear Church Family,
This month I want to think about our minds. What are we thinking about? What preoccupies our thoughts? What influences are we exposing our minds to? These are just a few questions that we can ask about this topic. What I would like to do is just take a few selected passages of scripture and see if we could find a few points that would help us to keep our minds on Christ as we live in the middle of our very hectic and overwhelming world.
We must understand that the mind is a battlefield. It is often where we must wage spiritual warfare as Satan and his demons come and attack us in our thoughts. Satan loves to come to us and whisper lies, create doubts, promote negative thoughts, paralyze with fear, and promote sin. Robert Godfrey states… “Satan is a fallen angel and a finite being. He can’t be everywhere at once; he can’t tempt everyone at once. But we must be aware that he has demons, and the demons are operative in the world and can work in a variety of ways to bring Christians into a situation where they are tempted to evil thoughts or actions.”
But the good news is that we are not defenseless against these attacks. Remember…“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4). Let’s consider a few truths from scripture that can help as we guard our minds against the spiritual attacks that will come to our minds.
- Renew Your Mind.
Romans 12:2 states… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” J.B. Phillips translates this verse… Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold,”
You must resolve in your mind not to be pressed into the world’s mold, but then you must act to be transformed by the renewing of your mind by spending time in God’s Word.
- Be Selective About What You Think On.
Philippians 4:8… “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Do not allow your mind to think about things that are dishonorable, impure, unlovely, or uncommendable. It matters what you think about.
- Take Every Thought Captive.
II Corinthians 10:3-6… “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
We are to take every humanistic philosophy, and every thought that does not line up with scripture and subject it to the truth of God’s Word. What ever thought it is that comes from a false religion or lie of Satan we are to take it captive through the truth of God’s Word.
- Let God’s Peace Guard Your Heart and Mind.
Philippians 4:4-9… “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
The peace of God surpasses all understanding because it is not contingent upon external circumstances. Even in the storm, we can know God’s peace, and it sets a guard over our hearts and minds. We must make a conscious choice to trust the Lord and “let the peace of God rule in [our] hearts” (Colossians 3:15).
Prayer is connected to God’s peace in that it is a way to focus our hearts and minds on the promises of God. Scripture abounds with promises about God’s love (Romans 8:31-39), protection (Psalm 91:4), wisdom (James 1:5), and guidance (Psalm119:105). Embracing these promises helps to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
My prayer is that these four reminders will strengthen you as you live your lives and keep your minds on Christ. Let’s wage the battle and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit that we have already won the victory!!
I love you and I love being your pastor!
