HEAVENLY MINDSET
Bernadette Keene
Today’s Scripture: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8, NLT
Theme: Especially in times of trouble, turn to God and fix your mind on Jesus and His love for you.
UNDER ATTACK
When I woke up this morning, my mind was immediately filled with anxious thoughts: thoughts about what I might be facing in the day ahead. Every issue and unresolved problem inundated my mind. Because I have His Word stored up in my heart, I began reciting Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) which says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Yet every time I would say it, another thought would overlap.
This went back and forth for a good twenty minutes until finally I stopped and recognized it for what it was; spiritual warfare. It was very intense, so I turned off the light, put my back against the wall, closed my eyes and prayed. I acknowledged to God that I knew what was happening and that I needed His help to fight. Like a good soldier, I braced for impact and drew my weapon, God’s Word. I can relate to Dr. Stone in the movie Gravity, as she is quick to panic, instead of taking a breath and doing what she knows to do. For me, that is to pray, but sometimes when we are caught off guard, it’s not our first instinct. We panic first, then remember to go to God for help.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Over the next few minutes, I prayed every verse written on my heart that I could recall about the mind, then ended back at Isaiah 26:3. The enemy’s strategy was to hit me hard in the morning to disrupt my walk with Jesus. It made Ephesians 4:26 light up in my mind, reminding me why God says to never let the sun go down on your anger, because the adversary walks around seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
As I finished getting ready for work, I got my things together, went to my car and got in. When I turned the car on, I heard the familiar voice of Carol Davis from 106.9 The Light FM. She was talking about the battlefield in our minds and then proceeded to recite Isaiah 26:3! She then played a song by Terrian called “Stayed on Him”! Won’t He do it!? The Creator of the universe was speaking directly to His daughter after a fight, cheering me on!
Make It Personal: If you are amid a spiritual battle today, I encourage you to go to God’s Word and write down verses about the mind and your thoughts, whatever verses speak to you and help you to feel God’s power in your circumstances. When untruths and lies of the enemy manifest, pull out these verses and recite them until you feel God’s peace. His Word is a weapon! Use it!
Pray: Lord, when we face spiritual warfare, help us to remember Your faithfulness to us. We know that You will not let us be tempted beyond our abilities, but with temptation You also provide the way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Your Word! Amen.
Read: Ephesians 4:26; Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 1:7; Jeremiah 33:3; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Corinthians 10:13
Weekly Memory Verse: “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16, NLT