Overcoming Mental Warfare
“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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:5-6, NKJV.
Deception is a reality.
There’s a hidden truth in this verse in 2 Corinthians: at the very least, there is at least one lie you are unknowingly believing right now. Why do I know this is true? God’s words are never useless or mere suggestions. He would not provide us with the strategy to cast down what is in our minds if there was nothing there to cast down to begin with.
If God tells us that our spiritual weapons (i.e., prayer, declaring the word of God, and putting on the “armor” of God. See Ephesians 6:11-20.) are “mighty” for pulling down strongholds, that means there are hidden strongholds we are currently tied up in. If God tells us that our weapons are mighty for casting down arguments, then there are conversations happening in our mind right now influencing our lives. If God tells us that our weapons are mighty for bringing thoughts into captivity, then that means there are current lies in our mind directing our paths.
The thing about deception is, it’s not going to be obvious to you. The origin of the word deception is the Latin word ‘decipere’ which means ‘catch’ or ‘ensnare.’ It’s a hidden trap. While the enemy is not stronger than you, he is significantly craftier and more cunning than we give him credit for. Satan is a master deceiver. The only way you can spot his traps and not be ensnared by them is by equipping yourself with the light that is the word of God.
Jesus is the light. “Lord, shine your light in my mind and show me where I have been deceived. Reveal to me the lies that I have unknowingly accepted. Bring me out of agreement with them so that I may see clearly. Sort for me what is the truth of your word and what opposes it.”
Think about the moments in your life when you are feeling anxious, hopeless, angry, offended, or hurt. Who do you think is talking to you in these moments? While the feelings may be valid at times, the arguments are not. My point is that these moments are opportune times for the enemy to steal something from you by planting thoughts in your mind or by tugging at thoughts he previously planted. Someone has hurt or offended you and the enemy is inspiring continuous thoughts that have the effect of destroying the entire relationship you have with that person when God has a purpose in your friendship with them. God needs you to be a patient person to receive what He wants to give you but every day you have a new reason to be angry or offended. God wants to teach you how to love others unconditionally but suddenly you keep remembering past disappointments. God has a plan for your life in terms of marriage and family but for some reason you believe it has to be now or else it won’t happen. God wants to use you to transform the lives of others but you keep exalting yourself and living in pride. God wants you to live in loving unity with others but you continuously exalt the flaws of others and separate yourselves from them. God wants to give you a peace that surpasses understanding but you can’t stop thinking of the worst possible outcomes which leave you anxious and afraid. It is the truth and the word of God that He has plans to prosper you, give you a future and a hope but for some reason you believe things won’t get better for you. Who do you think is talking to you?
We have to be vigilant. I know that the Bible tells us to guard our hearts above all else, but the above verse in 2 Corinthians demonstrates that we also need to guard our minds.
There is power in your tongue.
The thing about this is, how can you know what isn’t true if you don’t know what is? You must be vigilant in your pursuit of the word of God so that you can recognize what needs to be cast down. You cannot passively allow your thoughts to control you. We are created to have dominion. You have the authority to stand up to the enemy and you do that by taking control of your mind.
“Lord, what is true? I believe (insert here) but I’m now doubting whether that was ever true. What do you say about this? I thought (insert here) but what do you say? Lead me to the scriptures that will provide the truth about what I’m currently facing. Encounter me so that I will have a specific word concerning my life and never unknowingly allow Satan to tell me what is true again.”
As you become familiar with the word of God, through reading your Bible and through personal relationship, you can begin to cast down the lies of the enemy with the confidence that comes from knowing what is true. You take a thought captive by, before deciding to believe it and come into agreement with it, holding it up against the word of God. You see that it contradicts God’s word and then you cast it down. You have to speak this. As awkward as it may seem, as strange as you may feel doing it, you have to speak it. If there is anything I am willing to bet my life on, it is the power of prayer. Prayer works. When you take authority over what is happening in your mind and with your tongue cast down the strongholds and arguments that do not align with the word of God, it works.
“I cast down every high thought that exalts itself above the truth of God in my heart and in my mind. I take these thoughts captive and submit them to your obedience, Lord. Have your way in my mind in this moment. I declare that my thoughts will obey you in the name of Jesus.”
There are times in my life when the enemy lays deception on me so heavily that I have to repeat this prayer multiple times throughout the day. Trust me, I am very aware of how impossible it feels to try and take control of your thoughts. But I have also reaped the reward of not falling into the many traps the enemy has laid out for me by constantly casting down high thoughts.
I challenge you this week to take inventory of your thought life. What stems from it? Do the truths you believe align with the word of God? My prayer is that you will experience the freedom and joy that comes from knowing the truth of God and step into the authority that is yours.