Sometimes strange, destructive or sinister thoughts pop into our minds. These thoughts can create great concern and confusion, giving the enemy a foothold to wreak fear in our lives. Fear is the catalyst for all kinds of negative feelings: anxiety, worry, shame, anger and depression which can lead to suicidal thinking. If these thoughts are not captured and destroyed, a spiral of more fear and more defeated thoughts build until we no longer feel safe and at peace in our minds. For this reason, we must learn to take captive every thought we know is not from God.
We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ". - 2 Corinthians 10.5 (NLV)
As Christians, these disconcerting thoughts are not our own. We are new creations in Christ and have been declared blameless by the blood of Jesus. Through the death and resurrection of God's Son, our Messiah, a Great Exchange took place. God in the flesh gave us His righteousness and took our sins, so we could be reconciled back to God. Proof of this reconciliation is that we now have the Holy Spirit in us, guiding, helping and encouraging us daily.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5.17 (NIV)Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). - Romans 5.1 (AMP) I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." - John 14.25-26 (NLT)
These thoughts spawn from one thing: the lies of the devil and his cohorts spoken to our flesh and through the world. However, we can learn to identify, ignore, rebuke and eventually be impervious to these evil thoughts by knowing God's truth and walking in it.
The enemy simply wants to steal our victory on earth because He knows that as Christians, we already have the victory in heaven. He also wants to destroy our destiny and kill our joy, peace, blessings and even our very lives. Satan and his demons know they can’t possess us because as Christians, we have the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but they can demonize us with their whispers of lies if we accept them instead of rebuke them. We must know the truth to expose the lies. The Bible holds all God's truth along with the truth the Holy Spirit gives us personally that aligns with the Bible.
We must first remember that our battle is not against others or ourselves. It's against "spiritual forces." But the wonderful truth is that we don't have to fear those spiritual forces because of this promise from God found in His Word: "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" (1 John 4.4 NLT). Satan has lost because of the cross. He has no authority over us unless we give it to him, and fear gives him that authority. Instead of fearing Satan's lies, we must have faith in God's words of truth.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". - Ephesians 6.12 (NIV)
When we receive a negative thought, we can instantly push it away. Our flesh does not control us. It has died in Christ and is no longer a slave to sin. It may take practice at first. We may have wired our minds with negative thinking. We may have trauma that ignited fear. The enemy may have already done great damage to our minds and our emotions, but God can and will heal us by the wounds Jesus took on our behalf (Isaiah 53.5). God can heal our minds miraculously, but usually, it will be a process. The process ensures that once we are free from evil thoughts, we can steward a healthy, renewed mind in Christ.
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him". - Romans 6.6-8 (NLT)Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" - Romans 12.2 (NIV)
Here are a few practical steps you can take to take control of your thought life and kick out the enemy's lies. We don't have to dwell on the enemy's lies anymore. We can do the work it takes to have minds that are peaceful and safe, and if the enemy whispers a lie, we can instantly capture it and throw it out.
- Read the Bible and other Christian resources. Seems simple, but we can't identify the lie if we don't know the truth.
- Commune with the Holy Spirit. Forming an intimate relationship with God is like any relationship. It takes time and effort, but a mind at peace is worth every second.
- Surround yourself with others wanting to grow and mature in Christ. No one is perfect, but finding a Church and Home Group will greatly influence your life, including your thoughts.
- Seek godly help. Sometimes help is needed especially if the thoughts have been deeply rooted by fear and/or trauma.
- Have faith in God's promises to you. Find those promises from His Word and fill your mind with them. They will disperse the lies.
- Finally, be grateful. Count your blessings one by one. They will help rewire your brain from ugly, negative thinking to bountiful, joyful thinking.