What if I was to tell you that your mind is more powerful than you think. Is this something that you’ve ever considered?

As I have grown in my faith I have come to realise that the mind and the thoughts that we have are very important and can affect every aspect of our lives.

The enemy knows this, and uses our minds as his playground more times than we can imagine. One of his main missions is to create strongholds in the mind which are contrary to what God says about us and to distort our perception. This can create a life of bondage and stagnation, hence the reason why God led me to speak on this topic. God’s desire is that we are free to live the life that He intended for us to live.

The enemy is skilled at playing mind games. The Oxford Dictionary defines mind games as a course of psychologically manipulative behaviour intended to discomfit another person or gain an advantage over them. When our minds are not aligned with God’s Word we are easily susceptible to being controlled by the enemy. This can show up as paranoia, rumination, double-mindedness, negative thought patterns or thought patterns that are carnal. The Bible says that the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬).

Have you ever been sitting there and all of a sudden a negative thought pops into your mind out of nowhere and you question where it came from? Or you may struggle with replaying negative scenarios over and over again in your mind. Maybe it was an argument with a friend and you are ruminating about it, thinking about what you could have said to really hit deep. Trust me, I have been there. How have you felt after a negative thought session? I can guarantee that you didn’t feel good about it. 

Negative thoughts rob you of your peace.

This is why it is important that we exercise control over our minds and learn ways of being intentional about our thought process. A negative thought pattern cannot produce a positive life. What we think about usually affects our emotions, which can affect our behaviour, our words and the trajectory of our lives.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

~ Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭7‬ ‭~

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The Bible tells us that we ought to renew our minds.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

~ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭~

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When we renew our minds, we can get a better revelation of what God’s will is for us and clarity about our purpose. Imagine being in a very noisy and chaotic environment, and your friend is trying to tell you something. It is likely that you will not be able to hear what they are trying to say due to the noise around you drowning out their voice. In the same way, a cluttered mind can drown out the voice of God. Remember, God’s voice is often quiet and still (1 Kings 19:12).

There has to be a point where you come to the realisation that any thought that is not of God, is not serving a purpose in your life and has to go.

Renewing your mind is one of the best investments that you can make in yourself. Meditating on God’s Word and His goodness is imperative to gaining victory over your mind. Make it an intention each morning when you first wake up to meditate on God’s Word. You will find that this will set the tone for your day. I like to write down my thoughts in a journal as it helps me to see things more clearly. It also helps to write down key scriptures in my journal from the Bible that are contrary to any toxic thoughts that I may have. You will find that the more you fill your mind with God’s truth, the more you will be able to combat the enemy’s lies and live a prosperous life.

Bringing our minds into subjection to the Word of God  can take time, but with every thought, we can  make the choice to exercise authority and discipline by not meditating on negative thoughts. 

So I have a question. What thoughts usually occupy your mind? Below are some declarations that I have found helpful in gaining victory over my mind and that have been helping me to cultivate a healthy thought life.

1. I choose to fix my mind on the truth of God’s Word.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

~ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭~

2. I have the mind of Christ.

“For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

~ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭‬‬~

3. I find power in God’s Word, which discerns my thoughts and the intentions of my heart.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

~ Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭~

4. I acknowledge any negative thought patterns that I have, and anything in my mind that is not aligned with God’s Word, I take captive and teach to be obedient to Christ.

“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,”

~ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭~

5. I replace the lies of the enemy, with the truth that is God’s Word.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

~ Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭~

6. I am at peace because my mind is focused on God.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

~ Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭~

7. I take authority over negative thoughts.

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

~ Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭~

8. I choose to set my mind on things above.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

~ Colossians‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭~‬‬

9. I am a new creation in Christ, therefore I do not have to dwell on negative thoughts. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

~ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭~

10. I choose to meditate on God’s Word, His goodness and all of His marvellous works.

“I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.”

~ Psalms‬ ‭77‬:‭12‬ ‭~

11. I call on the Holy Spirit, my Helper to help me tear down strongholds that are hindering me from having healthy thoughts.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.”

~ ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬ ‭~

12. I have life and peace because my mind is governed by the Spirit.

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

~ Romans‬ ‭8:5-6‬ ‭~

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Click here to download a list of these declarations to keep with you.

Stay blessed and encouraged 

Nkay 

xoxo