The Battle of the Mind: Control Your Thoughts

Many believers characterize their faith by how they think.  Last time we spoke of how we feel, and today we are going to focus on what we think.   Believers today are depressed, they have anxiety, they can’t sleep at night, they are fearful, and many other negative things.  This should not be so.  Let’s find out how to control our thoughts to live in peace.

Scriptures:

Romans 12:2:   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   ^KJ

NLT:  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. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Romans 8:6:   The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  ^NIV

NLT:  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  ^{Mind phromena-feelings guided by inclination and purpose; opinion}

Ephesians 6: 10-13:  10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   ^{NKJ  wiles-methodeia- accompany in a journey by lying in wait to trick; trickery}

Ephesians 6:16:   In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  ^{Berean Study}

KJ:  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  ^KJ

^{Darts – missiles, spears, arrows}

NLT:  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Luke 10: 17, 18:   17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

18 So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”   ^{Berean Study}

Mark 16: 17a:   And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…   ^NKJ

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5:   3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ^{Berean Study   strongholds-fortresses of human reasoning reinforced by subtle arguments in the mind; false beliefs against God}

2 Timothy 1:7:   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  ^NKJ

Berean Literal:   For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of self-control.

 

Psalm 91:  I remain settled in a protective state of mind focused on the Most High; therefore, I stay permanently safe under the defense of the Almighty.  I say, “Lord, You are my confidant and my defense: My God, in You I trust.”  Surely You deliver me from the snare of all entrapments, and from the destroying plagues.  You fence me in with Your feathers, and under Your wings I take shelter.  Your Word surrounds me with a prickly guard of protection.  I am not afraid of objects that startle at night, or of wounding weapons that fly by day, nor of the plague that walks in darkness, nor of destroying things that ruin and lay waste at noonday.  A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me! Only as an onlooker will I observe the reward of the wicked.  Because I have made the Lord, my shelter of hope and trust, and the Most High, the place where I dwell, no evil shall befall me, nor any contagious epidemics come near my home.  For the Lord has given His dispatched deputy of angels command over me, to hedge me about with guarded thorns everywhere I go.  In their hands they bear me up, even if I dash my foot against a stone.  I shall tread on the fierce roar of the enemies fake alarms against me and the adders’ twisted truths.  The gates of hell and the serpent I trample under my feet.  Because I love You Father, You always carry me to safety, and set me on high because I know Your Name.  I will always call on You, and I know that You will always answer me; and be with me in all tight spots.  You equip me with the strength to escape every situation, and You always honor me.  With long life you continue to give me plenty, and You deliver me victoriously in every situation through Jesus (Yeshua Messiah)!