Who Is Winning the Battle for Your Mind?

Our minds are our greatest asset.

Our minds are also our greatest enemy.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

I have said this for years. I have seen many incredible people ruin their lives by allowing their minds to run wild, never gaining control of the thoughts that seem to sabotage their very lives.

At the same time, I have seen many average people who have found ways to set themselves apart and excel far above their natural abilities simply because they have learned the power of taking their thoughts captive.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

What about you? Is your mind your greatest asset? Or is it your greatest enemy?

Craig Groeschel at Life.Church is currently preaching a sermon series entitled Winning the War in Your Mind. He has also released a new book by the same title.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

As I have listened to the first two sermons from this series, I have been reminded how powerful our thoughts are. I know we often hear criticism about the power of positive thinking theology, and yet my Bible very clearly and repeatedly emphasizes the importance of our thoughts. I don’t know how anyone can deny the reality that God expects us to control our minds if we want to know the truth so the truth can set us free (John 8:32).

But how do we take our thoughts captive? How do we learn to be transformed by the renewing of our minds?

I want to challenge you to do some things with me.

First, listen to the sermon series.

Second, purchase Craig’s book.

Click here to order the book from Amazon:

Third—and this is the big one—buy a journal.

The journal is the key to this entire experiment. It’s an exercise that will help you identify areas where you are believing lies and replace the lies with the truth.

For the next six weeks, I want you to write down every negative thought you have and then counter it with the truth of God’s word.

It might look something like this:

Lie: I’m not good enough.

Truth: God tells me that I am a masterpiece created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Lie: God doesn’t care about me.

Truth: God loved [insert your name] so much that He gave his one and only son (John 3:16).

Lie: No one will ever love me.

Truth: I am loved more than I will ever understand this side of heaven (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Lie: God is cruel to me.

Truth: I may not understand why things happen on earth because His ways are higher than my ways. What I do know is that God’s plans for me are good, plans to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Lie: I will never be able to experience intimacy with God.

Truth: God promises that if I seek Him with my whole heart, I will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). When I focus my thoughts on Him, He will let His peace that surpasses all understanding guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).

John 8:31-32 tells us that “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It is our responsibility to hold to His teaching, to hold to the Truth.

Do you want to know His perfect peace, His peace that far surpasses all understanding? Let’s embark on a journey to take our thoughts captive as we are commanded to do.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Will you join me in this experiment? I can’t wait to hear how things are going!