Beat the Devil at His Own Game

Last week, we talked about raising the Shield of Faith when the arrows come.

But what happens when one of those arrows sounds like this?

You’re not good enough.

This is never going to work.

What if everything falls apart?

God has forgotten about you.

Friends, sometimes the battle isn’t happening around us.

It’s happening inside our heads.

And that’s exactly why the next piece of God’s armor matters so much.

Protect Your Head

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the Helmet of Salvation.

A helmet protects something incredibly valuable: your mind.

Because the enemy knows something too.

If he can influence what you continually think about, he can influence how you feel. And if he can influence how you feel long enough, he may eventually influence how you live.

That’s his destination.

Not simply your difficult circumstance.

Your thinking about the circumstance.

A small thought becomes worry.

Worry becomes fear.

Fear becomes a false conclusion.

And before long, we’re living as though the lie were true.

Ever been there?

I sure have.

You Don’t Have to Believe Everything You Think

Here’s the incredibly encouraging part.

A thought showing up in your mind does not mean you have to invite it in, pour it coffee, and let it move into the spare bedroom.

Paul gives us our battle plan:

“...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5

Notice the language.

Take it captive.

We don’t negotiate with the lie.

We compare it with the Truth.

When the thought says, You’re alone, God says, I am with you.

When fear says, There’s no way through this, faith says, God will make a way.

When shame says, You are what you’ve done, salvation reminds us, You belong to Christ.

That’s the helmet.

It protects our thinking with the truth of who God is and who we are because of Him.

Catch It Before It Captures You

Maybe that’s the simple practice worth carrying into this week:

Catch it. Question it. Replace it.

Is this thought true?

Does it agree with what God says?

Is it producing faith, truth, peace, and obedience...or fear, confusion, condemnation, and defeat?

You may not control every thought that knocks on the door.

But you absolutely get a say in which ones are allowed to stay.

So this week, Shield Up.

Helmet On.

And when the enemy comes looking for somewhere to land, remind him that your mind is already occupied.

By Truth.

With faith, gratitude, and a well-protected noggin,

Your friend,

Brock

P.S. The devil may be good at delivering lies, but that doesn’t mean you have to sign for the package. Return to sender. Helmet on. Truth wins.