The War is in the Mind
The enemy’s war against us first takes place in our mind and emotions.
Even though saved and born again, there is a fight between our spiritual birthright and our physical birthright. Paul says “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Ro 7:23).
The devil knows that nothing can be done about our spirit since it already belongs to and is dedicated to Christ. And since the devil is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), he uses our minds to control our thoughts and emotions. His goal is to get your mind off of the promises of God through those mental attacks.
But in our ‘new man’, we have the ‘mind of Christ’ (1 Cor 2:15). With the Word of God, we can go to war against the enemy’s attacks on our mind and learn to replace the lies with the truths of God. “For the word of God is alive and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).
Our human mind was not created to think evil thoughts. When you think evil in anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc., our mind cannot process these thoughts properly and we end up destroying what we’re trying to build. The apostle Paul says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, (ONLY) think on these things” (Phil 4:8).
Actually, Satan cannot do anything to you without your consent. He can only use your power of choice; and he does so by mixing a little bit of truth to get your attention and floods you with lies. That’s why it’s important to get filled up with the Word so you can discern the attacks on your mind. Paul said, “Neither give place to the devil” (Eph 4:27). “For we’re not unaware of this devices” (2Cor2:11)
The battle is between our old nature and our ‘new nature’. It’s a daily conflict between God’s plan for us and our own plan. It’s a battle against our ego, really. And it requires discipline of our thoughts. “Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God’s kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again” (1Pt 1:13)
One of Satan’s favorite devices is compromise, to choose the easier way. He makes comfort and complacency appealing. That is why we must, “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1Pt 5:8). Most of our bad habits are centered around compromise and comfort. But complacency is the enemy of victory. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Ro 8:13).
That’s why we have to reevaluate our wrong habits, whether they be physical or emotional. “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jam 4:4).
No one likes the pain of discipline, but it will bear lasting fruits in your life. It’s a battle between short-term gratification and long-term benefit. That’s the main reason people purchase on credit: they want it now. Satan plays with our emotions and tries to make us live out those emotions in the carnal for immediate gratification. But God gives us the power to rearrange our own life. Paul spells it out clearly: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Ro 8:5-7).
We must first win the battle in our own mind. We must be willing to discipline ourselves to be more Christ-like. Paul says to the Romans, “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your body a living sacrifice, wholly, acceptable unto God and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God“.
In other words, do not let this world conform you or mold you so that you look, talk and live like the world. But rather, let what is in you be seen on the outside. It’s an ongoing battle against the enemy. Paul said, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1Tim 6:12).
It’s only by your mind being renewed by the Word of God that you truly change your character. Your mind is renewed to the degree that the Word of God dictates your behavior. Solomon said, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Pro 4: 20-23).
Renewing your mind doesn’t mean thinking on the things of God just the first few minutes of your day during your devotional time; but your whole character, your whole day, is dictated by your new man. The battle is over your mind. And that comes from the decision to not only take in the Word but ALSO to discipline your life according to it. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Cor 10:3-5).
It is in knowing God’s Word that the Spirit of God in you comes through your body, your emotions, and your intentions. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa 26:3). The new testament believer is God possessed. Your thinking becomes more like Christ’s. Your whole self becomes effaced, denied, and the love of Christ living in you, loves on people unselfishly.
That’s what renewing our mind is about. It is the effort of disciplining our thoughts to fall in line with the principles and the laws of God. “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” (Eph 6:12).
The key to staying in the Spirit and staying free from the attacks of the devil on our thoughts is to keep our mind aligned with the Word of God. ALL you have to do is answer the lies with the truth of God. “When the Enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isa 59:19b). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind“ (2Tim 1:7).
Stop TALKING about the enemy’s attacks and his lies, stay in the Word and talk about the victories of God. It’s the secret to victory and to walking in the blessings of God. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night“ (Ps 1: 1,2).
