The Battle Is For The Mind

'The Incredulity of St.Thomas' by Caravaggio
ca.1601, at the Neues Palais, Potsdam

The Battle Is For The Mind


READ Proverbs 14:1-35

SITUATION Each proverb in this section was written to capture interest through contrast. Each one highlights the life of the wise and righteous person in contrast to life of the foolish and wicked.

OBSERVATION If we choose to live by God standards, we will be righteous. But if we choose to live by our own standards, we will be wicked and will face God's wrath.

INSPIRATION The natural man is spiritually dead, separated from God. He has neither the presence of God in his life nor the knowledge of God's ways. He has learned to live his life independently of God. Essentially, this is what constitutes the "flesh." His mind has been conformed to this world. The brain, which is physical and part of the body functions like a computer. The mind is the programmer. The body picks up data from the world through its five senses. The mind chooses and interprets the data, and the brain stores it. The emotions are essentially a product of how the mind choose to think and interpret life's events.

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life. Because we are now spiritually alive and united with Christ, we have the mind of Christ. We have become a partaker of the divine nature. However, nobody pushed the clear button in the computer. The brain is still programmed to live independently of God . . .

The battle is for the mind. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit; and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another" (Galatians 5:17). God has given us the responsibility to choose. The carnal Christian choose to walk according to the flesh. What governs his behavior are the old habit patterns and thoughts that were programmed over time. The spiritually defeated Christian fails to put on the armor of God and ends up paying attention to deceiving spirits. The spiritual man has crucified the flesh and put on the armor of God; he chooses to think upon that which is true.

We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:23). The Holy Spirit discloses the mind of Christ. We most choose to no longer be conformed to this world We are to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). When we do, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. We chose to think the truth, and the Holy Spirit enables our thoughts and renews our minds with logos. Then the peace of God guards our hearts and minds. We let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts by letting the world of Christ richly dwell in us (Colossians 3:15-16). We are now equipped to discern . (From Walking In The Light by Neil Anderson)


EXPLORATION Wisdom -- 1 Kings 3:6-9;12; Psalm 119:97-104 ; Proverbs 1:23-28; 2:3-6; 9-10; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Luke 2:40; James 1:5.

The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus - Max Lucado General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, New Century Version



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