mind wars

Have you ever thought of your mind as a battleground? For believers in Jesus, it is. One preacher preached that our call as Christians is to be spiritually stable, and spiritual stability is a result of how we think.

Several times yesterday, Philippians 4:8 popped into my head. 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. Of course, I couldn't recite the whole verse from memory, but "whatever is true, whatever is right" summed it up pretty well. Daydreams and even night-dreams got the best of me. It was a mind war: truth vs. untruth, real vs. unreal.

The amazing thing about these battles are: the Spirit of God invades our thoughts. Romans 8 tells us that "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." So when we're instructed to "set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth," does that mean we never fail?

My good friend used the word intentional (actually talking about something else, but it fits here). We must intentionally take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We will fail in our own strength, but in His strength we must intentionally be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:2). How do you do that? Test everything; hold fast what is good (1Thes. 5:21). If you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding...you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1,2,5).

Whatever is TRUE...the only truth to dwell on is the Word of God. Christ.

Whatever is NOBLE...whatever is worthy of awe...the worship of God.

Whatever is RIGHT...righteous...think on what is consistent with the holiness of God.

Whatever is PURE...clean

Whatever is LOVELY...sweet or gracious

Whatever is ADMIRABLE...whatever is highly regarded (it's not the things of this world).

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).