The Battle for Your Mind

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Martin Luther once said, “You can’t prevent a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent him from building a nest in your hair.” We can’t prevent doubts and fears from popping into our thoughts, especially when we’re going through a major crisis like fighting cancer. Yet we are not victims – we do not have to give in to destructive voices.

After surgeries, chemos, drugs and radiation during my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, I felt very vulnerable to these mind games:

     What if? Why is this…? When will…? Woe is me!

Yet as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10, we don’t have to fight in the flesh – our own human resources. We have powerful spiritual weapons to wage the war, and winning the battle for our minds is surely a supernatural feat. What are these weapons?

• God’s Power – “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Ask Him to fill you with His power to fight the battle for your mind. He will release the very power of Jesus’ resurrection in you and through you (Ephesians 1:20).
• God’s Promises – When Jesus was under spiritual attack, even He quoted and stood firm on the promises of God found in the Bible. The Lord has promised to never leave or forsake us. So we can rest in Him – He promises to carry us every step of the way. Remember, His promises are true, whether we feel them or not. We should walk by faith – not sight.
• God’s Proclamations – “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ”(2 Corinthians 2:14). Thank Him that we already have the victory in Christ over agitating thoughts – because we do! Praise becomes us, and it chases off gloom like no other weapon.
  • Praise Him that He is greater than cancer!
  • Praise Him that nothing is too hard for Him to handle – including depression!
  • Praise Him that He has provided every spiritual blessing we need to handle a battle with cancer and the games of our minds! (2 Peter 1:3).

Lord, we rise up and reign with You in the battle for our minds through the divine weapons that You have freely provided!