Food for THOUGHT: the Battle is in the MIND

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, or the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every THOUGHT captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NASB

While we are on this earth, we struggle. We struggle with circumstances, with relationships, with health, with finances, with emotions, with disappointments and expectations and we could go on.

And if we stop to think about it, we realize our struggle takes place in our thoughts, in our minds.

Today I would like to share with you, my beloved readers, the study that my small ZOOM group did in our last lesson. Here are the principles that were the base for our discussion. They are from the curriculum we had been in for the past 6 months: Living IN Jesus: Growing in the LIFE We were Made to LIVE (Christian Families Today):

THE WAY THE MIND WORKS 

1.    We cannot set our mind on two things at once,

2.    If we do not set our mind, it will automatically set on something else.

3.    Feelings usually follow what our mind is set on. 

4.    We cannot suppress a thought, but we can replace one thought with another. 

Let these principles sink in…they are simple but profound.

I shared with our group a personal story that illustrates many of these principles:

Take a look at “Lessons from a Family Vacation: WE BECOME LIKE WHAT WE FOCUS ON” or use this link https://bit.ly/3Ly9JJ6   (also in my book The With-ness of our God, page 145-148)

And Sherry, a sister in our group, shared her personal testimony to these truths:

Last week it seemed my life had lost focus and purpose. Satan had me in a dark place. I called Jan with the intention of taking a break from Bible Study. After talking to Jan and hearing her kindness and prayer, I realized I didn’t need a break. I needed to refocus my mind to God’s voice and to trust Him and His promises. I attended Study. Other sister’s words gave me added strength. God knew just what was needed. My mind can be put under God’s grace and guidance and I can decide to follow His spirit within me. Hope is in God’s promises and joy will follow. Thank you all for being my joy last week. Praise to our wonderful Savior!!

Sisters and brothers, how is your thought life? Does it run rampant? Remember, if you don’t set your mind on the Lord and His truth, it will default to the lies of the enemy through the world and the flesh.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 NASB

And do you have a small group or even another believer you can share with? We can help each other out of the darkness into God’s light .

Now FLEE from youthful lusts and PURSUE righteousness, faith, love, and peace WITH those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 NASB

Here is a song that we used to sing at the beginning of Theology class when John & I were at Moody Bible Institute. It is so appropriate for us because we truly do have the mind of Christ!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16 NASB