Winning the Battle of Your Mind
MEGHAN MELLINGER
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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
Have you ever played that game “Two Truths and a Lie”? You present three statements about yourself — two that are true and one that isn’t — and then everyone guesses which statement is false.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that the people who are really good at that game are the ones who make their lies simple, not over the top. The “I won the lottery last year” lie is obvious — the kind of lies that seem normal, everyday, are the ones nobody second-guesses.
The same goes for our self-talk. Our minds are a battleground of affirmation and deception. But it’s hard to discern what’s true and what isn’t.
Every thought is a game of truth versus lies. Because if you’re a follower of Jesus, you have the ultimate Truth. And that makes you dangerous to the enemy, who is the “father of lies” (John 8:44, NIV).
But take heart: If you believe in Jesus, the devil can’t touch your eternity (Ephesians 1:13-14), though he will try to render you ineffective on earth. And one way he tries to do that is through the “normal,” everyday lies that pop in our minds:
I am not [fill in the blank] enough.
I am the only one who feels this way.
I don’t think God means what He says about me.
The good news is: You don’t have to have a black belt in karate to fight back.
Step One: Take Inventory
What decisions have you recently made, or what are you weighing the pros and cons of? The greater the impact of your decisions, the greater the battle Satan wages to try to keep you from following God’s will.
What godly influence might the evil one be trying to stop you from having?
Step Two: Bring to the Light
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that light is the first thing God created when He made our world (Genesis 1:3). The devil may delight in the darkness, but the light always overcomes it (John 1:5).
Bringing your dark thoughts to the light can mean a lot of things, including releasing your thoughts through prayer, journaling, or processing with a trusted friend or counselor. In the dark, you feel alone, and fear, worry and hopelessness multiply faster than the ants in my kitchen after they found my candy stash. But in the light, you have company, support and freedom.
Step Three: Discern the Lies From the Truth
With your thoughts revealed, how can you tell the difference between something true and something false?
The Holy Spirit convicts us when we make sinful choices so that we can repent, but the devil shames us to hide instead of heal. Satan’s lies will undermine, discourage and destroy, but God’s Truth will empower us in — or convict us toward — our true identity and affirm God’s character.
For example:
LIE: My brokenness and imperfections are beyond repair or hope.
TRUTH: Jesus’ love and sacrifice cover my brokenness and imperfections.
If we believe in Jesus, there is no longer any condemnation for us, only redemption (Romans 8:1).
Step Four: Fight the Lies With Truth
For every lie that crosses your mind, you can cover it with Scripture and render it meaningless. Allow Jesus, not the evil one, to be victorious in that thought.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).
And always remember: God is with you. God’s Spirit lives within you if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus. He is for you. He is protecting you, empowering you, and helping you be victorious in the battle of your mind.
Jesus, the thoughts I have and choose to believe hold much power over my life. Grant me wisdom to discern what is true and what is not. May my mind be filled with Your Truth about who You are and who You say I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Maybe prayer isn’t as hard as we make it. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing” (ESV). But if we’re honest, that often feels impossible. Prayer can seem like a language to learn or a puzzle to solve, and everyone else appears to know how to do it “the right way” except you. That's why we want to invite you to join us for Praying Through the Psalms: 30 Days To Uncomplicate How You Talk to God, a six-week study in the First 5 mobile app, which just started on August 7. Click here to order your study guide!
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For more from Meghan, connect with her on Instagram @megswritesthings.
Surrounding ourselves with a strong faith community can be such an important part of winning our mental battles. We’d love to welcome and pray for you in our “Encouragement for Today Devotions Community Group” on Facebook!
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (NLT)
When we read the list of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17, it seems pretty exhaustive — helmet, breastplate, belt, sword, shield, shoes. But there’s something that isn’t covered: our backside. (Kudos to Joyce Meyer for noticing!) Perhaps this is because we were never instructed to run away from our battles but to face them head on. What biblical truths will help you go into battle today? Share with us in the comments!
© 2023 by Meghan Mellinger. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Friday, 11 August 2023.
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