I have been preaching a sermon series (you can check them out on YouTube-Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. Click on LIVE in the menu. Yeah…I know…Shameless promotion). 🙂 I’ve called it Faith Over Fear. Anxiety, worry, fear, and depression (the Big 4 for abbreviation purposes) are very real emotions, even to those who follow Christ. Following Him does not make us immune to the same type of struggles others face.
One of the comments I made just yesterday in the sermon is that the struggle we have with the “Big 4” is that it begins in the mind. It begins in the mind and soon becomes an albatross around the heart and soul of a person. I think the truth of it beginning in the mind is found in verses like Phil. 4:8 where Paul says, “Whatever is true, whatever his honorable…think on these things.” In 2 Corinthians 10:5 he writes, “We take every thought captive.”
In another passage Paul seems to double down on the “mind game.” In 2 Corinthians 11:3 he writes, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ.” He attacks our mind because our brain is command central. Satan is not stupid. As Proverbs 23: 7 says, “As he (a man) thinks within himself, so he is.” (HCSB)
The battle for our heart and soul starts in the mind. Someone has said, “Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.” Notice again where it starts.
Be careful what you think. Be careful where you allow your thoughts to go. It could have long-lasting, even eternal consequences.
Thoughts have the power to change the trajectory of a life quickly.
I have heard the statement you point out before… Sow a thought, reap an action…
I was curious, so I googled it…
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Not sure if he was the originator of that statement, but google “thinks” he was.
Thanks for the research Ryan! You definitely took it a step further than I did. 🙂 And you are right: thoughts do have the power to change a trajectory of a life.
There are certainly times where the enemy wants to try and convince you his thoughts are your thoughts, so you have to be watchful of that. When thoughts or things enter your mind that confuse you as to where they came from and why, always go to the Bible and check out what God says on the subject. If the thought is in contradiction of God’s word, than the enemy is trying to get a seat at your table, we do have the choice as to whether or not we allow the enemy to sit down. Quote Bible verses, and read scripture and remember God’s promises, and the enemy will retreat.
Hmmm. I’d like to believe you heard that in a sermon recently (yesterday) . 🙂 In all seriousness, you speak truth here Gail. We need to be prepared and equipped to do battle.
Our minds are powerful but can sometimes lie to us. For me it often takes the help of a fellow Cheeto wrangle those thoughts to the ground and tie them up for good!
you made me chuckle Pam with the fellow Cheeto wrangler. But you are right: it is very often we need help to overcome.
Lol! That was supposed to say “Christian to“ rather than Cheeto! But we both got a good laugh out of it!
It is always good to laugh, especially when my fingers have dyslexia or a mind of their own. 🙂
Satan knows way too well that to invade our thoughts is the best way to trip us up, Bill. That’s why surrendering our all each day to Jesus is so vitally important.
Blessings!
Yes he does and yes it is. You are exactly right Martha.
It’s so true that the battle is either lost or won in the mind. I have been trying to get someone very dear to me to see this. It took me a long time to learn it, and I still struggle. Thank you for this encouragement, Pastor Bill. I also enjoyed your last post and tried to comment, but was unable to. I am always so slow in getting to read your posts. I save them in my inbox until I have time to give them the consideration and thought they deserve.
You are not alone in your struggle Cheryl. Some grasp is quickly; others not so. Just keep encouraging. And I’m sorry about your inability to comment. I’ll have to check it out and see what the admin says might be the issue.