Realize The Enemy’s True Identity - Changing the Way You Think: Taking Every Thought Captive

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)

Have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult to change the way we think? To take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? I’ll admit, this was a real struggle for me.

See, I decided that I was going to believe God’s truths about who I was, what I had, and where I was as a child of God. But I wondered, why is this so hard? Then I began to understand that the lies I had been telling myself were deeply ingrained in my mind. My thought patterns were deep ruts in my brain, like ruts in a dirt road made from years of use. And I also discovered that the devil was the one trying to make sure the ruts stayed in place.

Hundreds of years ago, a book titled The Art of War was written. I’ll admit, I’ve never read this work on strategic warfare, but one idea from the book stands out: You cannot win a war unless you know who the real enemy is. In this battle for our minds, we need to know who we’re fighting.

The Bible tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). And who is the leader of those spiritual forces? The devil himself.

Jesus called him “father of lies” (John 8:44). John called him “the devil” (Revelation 12:9) and “the accuser” (Revelation 12:10). No matter what you call him, the enemy is the one who tells us that we’re not good enough and never will be…and it’s not true. But the truth is, because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and His Spirit in you, you are enough.

The devil can’t take away the promises of God. He can’t change the truth of who you are and what you have in Christ. But he can put a question mark at the end of those promises to cause you to question if His Word is really true for you.

He can put a question mark at the end of God’s commands in an attempt to get you to question if His promises are applicable for today. Anytime you have a thought that begins with the words, “Did God really say…” you need to stop and ask yourself, where did that thought come from? Most of our decisions that lead us in a path away from God’s perfect plan begin with this question, just like it did for Eve (Genesis 3:1).

We’ve got to know who the enemy is and understand how he works. He does the very same with you and me that he did with Adam and Eve in the Garden. He takes the promises of God, such as, I am holy and dearly loved, and twists it around in your mind to become, am I holy and dearly loved? Can I do all things through Christ who gives me strength? Am I free from condemnation?

When you sense you’re putting a question mark at the end of God’s promises, grab it with both hands and yank it into an exclamation mark!

• I am holy and dearly loved!
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!
• I am free from condemnation!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I can’t fight a spiritual battle in my own power. I pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to empower me to take my stand against the enemy’s lies. You have already won the battle! I simply need to take hold of what you’ve already done for me and placed in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What lies have you been believing about yourself? Where do you think they are coming from? Where does your power to take your stand in spiritual battles come from?