SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND MENTAL HEALTH
2 CORINTHIANS 10:4-5 NKJV
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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,
Spiritually speaking, the greatest battles we fight are not physical. They are the battles we fight in our minds.
We are not fighting with physical weapons. Nor are we exerting physical effort. The weapons we fight with are not carnal or natural weapons. The good news there is that the battles we fight spiritually are not dependent on physical strength or skill. Our weapons are mighty in God.
One of the key weapons we utilize is the word of God. When Jesus was pressured by Satan in Luke 4, we see Him resort to defeating Satan’s temptations with God’s word. Satan would tempt, and Jesus would answer with, “It is written.” Then Jesus would quote a scripture that contradicted Satan’s schemes. Jesus was not simply quoting Bible verses. Instead, He used specific verses that counteracted Satan’s attempts.
We simply do not know how Satan approached Jesus. But we do know that the devil does not show up with a red suit and horns. When we have to deal with Satan’s attacks we are often dealing with thoughts. Our warfare is examining the thoughts that come at us and resisting them.
Many thoughts can simply be ignored. But some thoughts persist in staying. This is why Paul wrote that we are to cast down imaginations, reasonings, and arguments that are contrary to what God has revealed in His word. And please do not assume this is easy. This is warfare. I call it stealth warfare because most people are in the middle of a battle, but few people can discern the struggle. We may have a smile on our faces, but thoughts are peppering our minds.
Paul wrote, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we are to take thoughts captive. Thoughts of failure, shame, destruction, and fear should not be allowed to run free in our minds. They are weapons of our enemy and need to be shot down, not with natural guns but with God’s word and with the guidance of His Holy Spirit.
APPLICATION:
Obviously, this is a subject that good books are written about. But here are some big takeaways.
There is such a thing as spiritual warfare. Most spiritual warfare takes place in our minds. We have the ability to arrest and shoot down the thoughts that oppose what God has said in His word. We can oppose thoughts that contradict what the scriptures say about us. Our mind belongs to us, and Satan cannot dominate our thoughts if we will resist him. God’s weapons are stronger than the enemy’s attacks.
God desires that we be strong in our minds. And He has given us the means to achieve mental health and strength.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You that my mind is my own. And that I can win the battle for my mind with the weapons You have provided.