The Battle for Your Minds
Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. Ralph Waldo Emerson
… clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 (NIV)
The battle is raging for the control of your thought life. For if the enemy can gain a beachhead within your thoughts, that front will eventually expand to control more and more territory, finally expressing itself in our actions.
Often, we tend to minimize what goes on within our thoughts, saying to ourselves, “Well, at least I didn’t do it! Yes, I may have thought it, but I didn’t act on it.” This rationalization can lead to self-delusion, for the Lord Jesus reminds us that even to lust after a woman is the same as committing the sexually immoral act of adultery (see Matthew 5:27-30).
So, what to do when the battle rages within for control of our thoughts? Here’s some practical suggestions:
- Determine to fix your thoughts upon Christ
- Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
- Arm yourself for battle by storing away God’s word within you
- How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.… I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11
- How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
- Ask God for help as the battle rages – it is not a matter of our will power, but rather His power
- … call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15
The enemy is waging war against you seeking to gain a foothold within your thoughts that he might exploit further into your leadership actions.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
How’s your thought life today?
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 