“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Philippians 4.8
Have you ever been ambushed by spontaneous impure thoughts — thoughts that covertly undermine the essence of your faith? Personally, distracting thoughts sometimes infiltrate my mind, especially when I am praying or contemplating God’s Word — challenging, confronting, or contradicting my character and devotion. Are they my own thoughts or are they the strategic mind games of an oppressive offensive attempting to sabotage my psyche, envelope me in false guilt and shame, and hinder my devotion to loving the Lord with all my heart and mind?
The apostle Paul, who wrote extensively about the enemy’s covert influence on the mind, reiterates that the only way to counter, confront, and combat enemy mind games is for us to recondition our minds by focusing on wholesome thoughts, and ultimately, on the irrefutable truth of God’s Word. Interestingly, Scripture uses the words hearts and minds interchangeably — reflecting an intentional intimate connection that the mind is the gateway to, and the battleground for, the heart. The enemy employs psychological guerrilla warfare on Christ-followers who aspire to sanctify their hearts and minds — hindering a thriving faith walk.
The battle for our minds and hearts is real and ongoing — it is a spiritual struggle for devotion — sometimes subtle, sometimes intense, sometimes debilitating. In today’s multimedia environment, numerous and often toxic media inundate and influence our impressionable minds — consciously and subconsciously. Consequently, we must embrace and practice Paul’s advice — protect, fortify, and recondition our minds with Scripture’s spiritual firewall. Let us daily and prayerfully strive to sanctify a sound mind fully devoted to purity by taking “captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your faithfulness. Help me to recognize the enemy’s mind games. Help me to counter, confront, and combat enemy mind games by strengthening my spiritual firewall — avoiding toxic media, immersing myself in your Word, and taking every thought captive in obedience to you.
Throughout the day ask the Spirit to make you sensitive to any lie or ungodly thought you begin to entertain. Invite him to turn your eyes fully on Jesus so that your thoughts are filled with worship as you go from task to task.
By Allan Mitchell
Used by Permission
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