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Thinking Straight

   Today, think about this crazy truth… Satan cannot force you into anything! He cannot make you sin or do things you don't want to do. You are always in control of your own actions and decisions. So, how then, does Satan get things done? As it turns out, the very first place that Satan ever attacks us is in our thoughts.
    Did you know that your thoughts aren't always your thoughts? They can be influenced and infiltrated by our enemy. Oftentimes, he plants a seed in our minds that drives us to temptation and sin. He puts a false idea or lie into our brains and keeps reminding us of it again and again, tempting us to act on it.
    Consider this: you have never committed a sin without first thinking about it. The thought always has to pass through your mind before you act on it! That should make us "think" more about what we are thinking about.

    It is so easy to just let your thoughts run wild. To indulge a sinful idea in your mind without plans to act on it. To pity ourselves and sit in the darkness of self-destruction and worthlessness. But if we are thinking of such things, that is what we are going to get! The word tells us we need to be thinking about Jesus and focusing our thoughts outside of this world and lifetime. To be heaven-minded.

Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (NIV)

 Colossians 3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (NLT)

 Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV)

 Romans 8:5-6 For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. (HCSB)

     If we can become aware of what we are thinking and identify the source as righteous or unrighteous, we can avoid a lot of the sin traps before we've even taken the bait! It all starts in our minds. If you can control your thoughts, you can control your actions. Let's decide to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and tell Satan that he has no place! Our God is bigger and thoughts cannot destroy us. Our enemy cannot touch us.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 23, 2014 at 10:11 AM

    I was about 5 years into my relationship with Christ (reading/studying/attending church/singing in choir) before I reven realized my thoughts had power or mattered. About 2 years ago I was ready to give up on my thoughts. I figured impure/violent thoughts were my "thorn in the flesh" that God left there for me to contend with until I died. I have never been so glad to be wrong in my life! I knew I loved God and as I kept praying, reading, and listening to sermons on the subject of thoughts, I started making my way out of the dark. Thanks for posting this. It is an awesome encouragement that we have God's Spirit and we have authority over our thoughts and the enemy!

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    Replies
    1. LaurenApril 23, 2014 at 11:20 PM

      Wow what a great testimony, Tiffany! Many people do not realize the power their thoughts have over them. They think it's alright to think about it without intent to act. Sadly, those thoughts imprison us. Thank you so much for sharing! So great to hear you have been freed from ungodly thoughts through the power of Jesus in you.

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