April 14th, 2016

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

The word 'stronghold' could also be referred to as 'mindset'.  In other words, when a person has their mind set or fixed on a specific way of doing something or believing that something is truth, it then becomes difficult for their belief to be changed from that in which they have "set their mind" to believing. Although what they believe to be factual may indeed not be at all, to that person, it becomes their truth. 

Therefore, the greatest and most common assault from our enemy is always first and foremost the battle upon our minds. If our thinking can be swayed from the truth of God's word than we become vulnerable and our offense and defense weakens, and as we become broken down we may very well find ourselves hanging out on the enemy's turf rather than standing solidly in the King's court.

There is not one thing that exists -whether good or bad - that did not first begin as a thought. Every action, every invention, every word we speak, did not manifest into existence until the seed of that thought was first within us. As it was allowed to exist and then mature, something - whether a word, an action, a business, an invention,whatever it may be, was created into existence that stemmed from that single original thought.  

On the other hand, if that first thought was stifled immediately after it formed and not meditated upon in any sort of way, nothing more would have manifested into existence in it's likeness. 

Negative thoughts do not bring about positive actions nor good things into existence. Neither does thinking with a negative perspective allow our faith in God to arise that we may receive His best for our lives. When we walk in faith we are believing with the heart and mind that God has only good in store for us, even if it requires Him to turn a bad situation around into something good. God created everything from nothing, He is more than capable of transforming whatever our trial is into a blessing and victory for us. The catch is, we 'receive' by faith when we 'see' by faith. What does that mean? Simply, when we believe God's word, which is good news, we believe the positive report rather than the negative report which may very well be in our face at that moment. When we are standing on the positive report we are also standing alongside God in the battle rather than alongside of the enemy in the battle. 

Remember, God is for us, His report is always favorable for us. His report is good news for us in every area of our lives! The enemy's report is that of condemnation for us and our situations. Therefore it's imperative that we do inventory of the thoughts we are allowing to exist within us and what we are allowing to mature into words we speak. Are they in alignment with the report of the Lord for our lives or are they giving territory to the enemy of our souls?

In such a negative world we can maintain a positive perspective only by "bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of Christ".  That means we welcome the Holy Spirit to lead us in our thoughts and when we recognize negativity creeping in, we subdue it and not give it another second to corrupt our thinking. Our battles are won and our lives glorify God when we learn to submit our thoughts to Him.  

 Our thoughts are much like our life's steering wheel, where they turn, our lives follow. Align our thoughts with God's will and our lives will shine forth His Spirit and His best! 

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."  Jeremiah 29:11  (Refuse to let anything or anyone convince you otherwise.)

Life is too precious to surrender it on anything other than walking in God's victory and very best that He has for us.