The mind is where
our battles begin and end. It has everything to do with our belief system. Whatever
we’re thinking, we can ask ourselves, “Is this true?” Whether we’re a Christian
or not, whatever we think about situation determines the way we’re going
to respond or react toward a person or circumstance. God has given us a command
to take our thoughts captive. That means He gives us the ability to get a grip
on our thoughts and train our minds with the truth of God’s Word.
He tells us our
weapons to resist the lies of our negative thoughts “are not the weapons of
this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2
Corinthians 10:4).”
My eyes were
opened in a new way while I was preparing to share this message in a women’s
marketplace study; that we’ve been given this “divine power to take our
thoughts captive.”
Think of it like
this: As a young teenager, when you drove a car or truck for the very first
time do you remember how huge and powerful and fast and dangerous the vehicle
seemed to be? You felt like, “Wow, this is amazing, but I need to be careful
and drive slowly, so I don’t lose control of this heavy, powerful thing!” You were
given the privilege to drive this vehicle, and it would take you where you
wanted to go, but you needed to think clearly and carefully because of its size
and power.
However, how long
did it take for you to get careless and begin to speed, cut corners, run stop
signs, and red lights? It’s a privilege to have a vehicle to drive and it’s a
huge responsibility at the same time. What are we doing with what God has given
us? He gives us so much! The point I’m trying to make is that God is so very
great and ultimately powerful and for us to carelessly drive our vehicles can
be dangerous to those who don’t submit to His authority.
Now substitute the
analogy of vehicle with the word life. Get it? And we see this over and over again in other
areas of our lives, as we mature. When you become a Christian you inherit the
awesome power of God inside you –but because we must “work out our own
salvation” by seeking God for ourselves to learn about His greatness, His love,
and His power. It's like having the capacity of a powerful weapon in our hands that can
be used for good, demolishing the strongholds in our lives.
What are we going
to do with what God has given us? He’s given us life and breath and everything
else. He has a promise for those of us who are faithful stewards of our lives
and of all the gifts He continues to
give us. He wants us to have abundant lives. He wants us to “bear much fruit
showing ourselves to be His disciples” (John 15:5). He wants to bless us: “You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things”
(Matthew 25:14).
So yes, we’ll stop
at stop signs and red lights, obeying rules that keep us safe. And then with child-like faith, we’ll
keep on truckin’ through life --just like our little grandson -- with all the joy and gratitude we can muster!
Polly💖
My "Rediscover the Wonder" monthly column appears in the Woodmont Word magazine; this is the April issue.
