Mind

Mind

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:4-5, NIV

Since September 11, 2001, our nation takes weapons seriously. If you’ve ever been in line behind someone who tried to get through airport security with nail clippers or a pocketknife, you’ve probably observed that security workers are on the lookout for weapons of all kinds.

In Paul’s encouragement to believers, he reminds us that the weapons we need to confront evil strongholds in our lives are not weapons that we see and carry. Our battles are fought in the human heart, and our mind is sometimes where the battle rages the hardest. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to guard our minds and examine our thoughts. How many times do anger, fear, pride, or anxiety challenge us each day? Sometimes these thoughts creep into our minds like guerilla warriors, silently, quietly, almost imperceptibly. But there they are, waiting for an opportune moment to battle with our better intentions and defeat us from being Christlike.

Paul recognizes the great danger in entertaining thoughts from the enemy. He teaches us that we can use supernatural weapons—prayer, God’s Word, and his divine power—to “demolish” strongholds. We are not left to fight these battles in our mind with weapons that can’t do the job. What a gift God’s weapons are!

Lord Jesus, commander of the Lord’s army,

I submit my mind to your Word and your authority today. Please fight and win the battle on my behalf. In Jesus’ name, amen.