The Daily Battleground

I have realized lately that the Bible talks A LOT about the mind. A LOT. We have to live inside our minds each and every day, and we have full control over what we choose to think about. Satan will try to get in there any way he can, and you probably won't see him coming unless you are prepared. Our minds are the ultimate battleground - we choose either to think on things that are true and lovely, or think envious, bitter, resentful thoughts. The Bible says that Satan is subtle, he sneaks up behind us and uses our fleshly weaknesses to capture us. However, if we can learn and apply what the Bible says about controlling our minds, we will be better prepared to guard our minds against Satan.

1. Renew your mind.

And be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
I just used this verse in a post a few weeks ago, but it's so important that we take it and apply it. I read Romans 12:2 a lot and each time I'm convicted to change a certain area of my life. We must re-establish our faith in our minds if we want to successfully follow the will of God. Conforming to the world begins in our minds - if you think worldly thoughts, soon you'll start doing worldly actions. Daily renew your mind by reading the word of God and praying, keeping that faith established.

2. Bring your thoughts into captivity.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

For something to be captive, it means it must be imprisoned or confined. We must take all of our thoughts (even the ones we think when we're tired, angry, upset, and stressed....) and confine them into obedience. Every single thing that we think should be captivated and enclosed, leaving no cracks or spaces for any stray thoughts to get us in to trouble.

3. Gird up the loins of your mind.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 

One writer wrote this about this verse, "'Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind" - it's an image of a person wearing flowing garments tucking the garments into his belt so that he can run and move about freely and quickly without tripping over his clothes. The part of you that is to be freed by this girding is your mind - the loins of your mind."

So basically what this is saying is that we need to tuck all of our thoughts in, put them away, and focus on the grace of God. When people would gird up their loins, they would need all the excess garments out of the way so they could perform their duties properly. In the same way, we have to tuck in all of our extra thoughts so that we can be what God wants us to be.

4. Think on these things.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

This verse is pretty universally well known, but it doesn't make it any less important. We must filter each of our thoughts through this verse. If what we are thinking isn't true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report, than those are thoughts that God doesn't want us to be having. It's a good reminder of what a godly mind should look like, what we all should aspire our minds to be. 

Our minds are a battleground that Satan is going to actively pursue us. We have to be prepared by renewing our minds, bringing our thoughts into captivity, girding up the loins of our mind and putting each thought through a godly filter. If we aren't careful and we let the devil captivate our minds, there are many verses in Proverbs that say we are fools. It will absolutely destroy us. Don't be complacent and comfortable in assuming what's going on in our minds doesn't matter - think about what you're thinking about.

Stay excellent!

Forgive the Inexcusable

   
     So a few years ago I had a different blog on a different domain, and I was rereading some of my old posts when I came across one I completely forgot I ever wrote. I did a really deep study on Acts that year and wrote many blog posts about it, but this one convicted me all over again as I read it. Today instead of writing something brand new, I'm going to re post it. I hope it will be a blessing to you!



 There's a quote by C.S. Lewis that goes, "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." One of the best examples of this is found in Acts chapter 7, the last two verses, which read,

 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

     How often do we get so upset about the most insignificant things? It isn't Christlike nor is it representing God in the way He deserves. We should have mouths that are slow to speak and hearts slow to wrath. Here Stephen is at the end of his life, being stoned for professing Jesus, and he is forgiving them while they're in the midst of their sin. Even at the end of his life he was still living for Christ the way we should strive to live every day.

     Here Stephen is being stoned, and what does he do? He asks God not to count this sin against them. He is asking God to forgive them WHILE HE IS BEING STONED. Stephen died in the name of Christ, he died as a martyr. He did nothing to deserve this punishment, he did nothing to deserve the way he was treated, yet he forgave them. I think too often we get comfortable in our every day lives and we let trivial things get to us. We allow bitterness to sink in where bitterness has no place. We have this mindset that we are entitled to things in this life, and people need to treat us a certain way. If they wrong us, we feel we have the right to be mad, frustrated, or annoyed. When we're professing Jesus in our lives, we don't have room for the frivolous drama of our daily lives. We don't ever have an excuse not to forgive other people for the ways they may harm us. (Usually we do things just as wrong to others and we don't even notice!)

     If anyone had a right to be mad, it was Stephen. I think he shows us an excellent example of a life that glorified God, even when it came to an end. If you're someone who gets mad or annoyed about the superficial things of life, I encourage you to take a look at Stephen.Forgive the inexcusable in others, because God forgave the inexcusable in you.

Stay excellent!