Read: Isaiah 26:1-4
Memory Verse: Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Tim LaHaye wrote a book back in the ’80s titled “The Battle for the Mind”. In the book he talked about the battle between humanism and Christianity, trying to win the hearts and minds of the next generation. Even after so many years, it is still a good read.
Today’s battle for the mind is in our thoughts and imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:5 admonishes us that we should be “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” We become captives of our own thinking; 2 Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
What wrong thinking have you allowed Satan to use in your life:
- God can never forgive me.
- God can’t use me.
- I am no good.
- I cannot forgive that person.
- God can’t help me in my situation.
- No one cares about me.
And the list goes on. Bitterness, anger, and depression are all used by Satan to defeat us. You will not have peace and victory until you bring those thoughts into captivity and cast them out!
Meditation for the Day: Romans 12:1-2 says that we must renew our thinking. How can you change the way you think? How can you bring them into captivity or cast them out of your mind? What are the new thoughts you should replace them with?
Assignment: Make a list of your negative or wrong thoughts. Write out reasons they are not true and what kind of thoughts you can replace them with. Post it and review it on a regular basis.
For Fun: Every Time you have a wrong thought, write it on a piece of paper and cast it into a trash can. Keep a running score of how many baskets you make. Reward yourself when you reach a set level.