(From the Beatitudinal Podcase Episode # 1: Mind Series #1: Take Your Thoughts Captive, Before They Capture You)
Do we as Christians have a comeback from these fierce diabolical attacks? Yes. We. Do!!
Providentially Powerful Thought
Praise be to the Lord God, Sovereign over ALL, Who – in love – tempers the potency of the enemy’s attacks against us at every turn!
There are many scriptures that provide practical weapons (e.g.) and irresistible assertions with which we can counter the enemy’s attacks.
Now, regarding surreptitious attacks via your thought life, here are seven quick principles to help you deal firmly with diabolical thoughts:
1. Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you are reminded of His mighty power and are not available to be moved by the enemy’s bluff
‘….Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased: Matthew 14: 27-31
When he fixed his eyes on Jesus, trusting Him, Peter walked on water. When he paid attention to the storm raging around him and gave credence to his rational doubts, he sank.
2. Ditch Unbelief
Doubts will seek to throttle your fledgling faith, yet all you need is faith the size of a tiny mustard seed to key into the Lord’s power that is available to you
‘…..But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes”. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”: Mark 9: 22-24
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you: Matthew 17: 19-20
3. Know There is a difference
There is a difference between your voice and your thoughts, and the enemy’s voice and imposter thoughts:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”…. You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”: Genesis 3: 1-5
4. Realize It Starts in the Heart
It is crucial to reject diabolical thoughts immediately because they take root in the heart, shaping intentions, advance to be expressed in words, and ultimately executed in actions.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death: James 1: 14-15
5. Believe There is No condemnation
There is no fault in being inflicted with a dark thought, the mistake is to entertain and fail reject it.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down”: Revelation 12:10
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: Romans 8:1
6. Understand That You are Reinforced
Your mental defenses include the mind of Christ:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ: 1 Corinthians 2: 14 -16
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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: 4-5
7. Take Those Diabolical Thoughts Captive!
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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: 4-5