Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)
Meditating on this set me to thinking about a serious battle I had as a child/early teen with taking every thought captive and submitting it to the Lordship of Christ. For several years I had to wage a battle in my mind... minute by minute taking EVERY thought captive. It is uncanny the extent to which the thoughts/attitudes which we willingly or unknowingly allow in our minds shape our attitudes, abilities, and actions.
This truth is vividly illustrated in Genesis 4:2-7
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."
Just like Cain, I do not do well, I indulge in a fallen face, and suddenly...sin is crouching at my door, desiring to devour me...to eat me alive...to destroy me. But...but says the Creator of my mind, my spirit, my will...you must rule over it.
I really do not have a choice. Like it or not, feel like it or not, want to or not, I must rule over it, dominate it, annihilate it, master it, or it will do so to me. My enemy the devil is like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour, and if he finds me without my armor on he will certainly eat me alive.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
This is my only defence...to put on the whole armor of God and to take every thought captive in submission to the Lordship of Christ.
4 comments:
Fight on! You're well-equipped.
Excellent post! I agree wholeheartedly. It is a battle and we need to be on the offensive and defensive all the time, lest we slip into apathy...exactly where Satan wants us to be.
Blessings to you!
redbaron in the Philippines...
Hey, what happened? No more entries? It's already May 21!
Don't get to read your blogs often, but when I do, it's a blessing.
Though we are a mess, our God reigns! And we are His bride.
Dear Sister,
I love to read the first chapter of Ephesians and of 11 Peter! They bring such a solid balance to the two extremes my mind can tend to dance between at times like this... that of legalism: doing in my own strength, or passivity: "Just let go and let God."
Both passages emphasize our inheritance of great and precious gifts, and promises in
The Lord Jesus Christ.
it amazes me more every day that He has given us His Spirit! Finally understanding this i begin to experience hope and victory!
"How very great is His power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated Him at His right hand side in the heavenly places..." Where He rules now (not just in some future state)
He came to give us abundant life NOW as well as eternally.
" God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."
As we walk in this life with God we choose to act and ask for the power of His Spirit, in the moment!
Francis Shaeffer's book, True Spirituality is a great read about this.
What a hope! I CAN "have mastery over it"- by the power of Jesus' Spirit in me!
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