We are always thinking. Sometimes we are intentionally thinking about a topic
or issue and other times thoughts seem to just pop into our heads spontaneously.
Many people believe that all the thoughts we have are our own, but they aren’t.
The spiritual does exist and thoughts are entering your mind both from God and
from Satan. So, whose thoughts will you choose to listent to?
Satan's
Thoughts Versus God's Thoughts
- Satan’s Thoughts: Spontaneous Thoughts
Which Are Negative and Destructive (i.e. line up with the names of satan:
Accuser, Father of Lies, Thief, Adversary)
- God’s Thoughts: Spontaneous
Thoughts Which Are Positive and Upbuilding (i.e. line up with the names of the
Holy Spirit: Comforter, Counselor, The Spirit of Truth, The Convincer, The
Exhorter/Teacher)
- Your Thoughts: Analytical Thoughts (i.e. connected,
you construct them yourself; they are not spontaneous)
My recommendation
is to go for God's thoughts!
The Sword of the Spirit
“Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so
that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the
day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet
fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests.” – Eph 6:10-18a
Satan will
continue to try to put his thoughts in our minds, but we can identify them
through the Spirit of God. He is not stronger than He who lives within us. For
we are more than conquorers through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). Our faith
will protect us from Satan’s attacks and we can defeat those attacks with the
Word of God.
Mark Virkler is with Christian Leadership University. CLU is
a Christian University and Online Bible
College offering Christian education including Christian counseling and Christian theology
seminaries and offers certificates, undergrad, Masters, and Doctorates in
the various Christian
colleges of CLU.