Are you defeated in the battleground of your mind – struggling to overcome thoughts which immobilize and discourage?

I often give in to the voice which says I am a victim. I allow myself to wallow far too long in self-pity, fear, and hopelessness.

Do you go there too? Wallowing in the sludge of disappointment and despair?

There is a verse in the Bible which says,

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV)

These words confirm I am at war in my mind. But they also state I have power to demolish strongholds. The strongholds I identify in my life are strengthened by fear. Fear of pain and suffering, fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of disapproval often lodge in my mind and immobilize me.

But Paul says we are not powerless. We have divine power to demolish strongholds! By taking our thoughts captive to the knowledge of God in obedience to Christ we can be set free from the thoughts which torture us.

If we are in Christ, the choice is ours. We can either linger in those familiar dark places, or we can align our thoughts with the truth about God.

The word of God says true love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). It tells us all things work together for our good according to the purposes of God (Romans 8:28). It reminds us not to worry about the future, but to trust the One who holds the future (Jeremiah 29:11-12). The Bible tells us God’s love is steadfast and everlasting and his compassions are new every morning (Lamentations 3;22-23). God promises to strengthen and help us (Isaiah 41:10). With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

So, the next time worrisome thoughts threaten to undo peace, take them captive or better yet – kick them out! Replace them with words which are true, lovely, pure, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8-9). 

I will leave you with some wonderfully encouraging words from our Lord today.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV).

Fight the good fight,

Nicole