Battles of the Mind

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

“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.”

Do you struggle with random thoughts that are not praiseworthy? Have those thoughts ever taken flight and become verbalized? Are your words a stumbling block for you?

I love the monologue by Christian Comedian, Chonda Pierce, where she says a lot of the time she thinks things and sometimes they don’t get “sanctified” before they come out of her mouth! That statement has my name written all over it!

I was always trying to be funny or command attention growing up and have often said things in anger as an adult, before taking the time to think about how they would be perceived by the listener…never allowing my words to be “sanctified” before spewing them on anyone in my path.

I’m certain I have hurt other’s feelings with these outbursts. I’m sorry. And yes, I’ve been embarrassed on more than one occasion for the insensitive things that have come out of my mouth. I regret that too.

But as I grow and mature in my walk with Christ, I’m finally learning to think before I speak. (Note I said learning… this is still a process.)

My Dad gave me some wise advice after I got married to my husband, Lee. I was talking with him during a visit to my parents home one Sunday afternoon early in my marriage. Dad and I were sitting on the front porch swing having a nice Father/Daughter chat. I was telling my Dad that Lee and I just seemed to argue over everything. I already had one failed marriage under my belt and I desperately wanted this one to work. I asked my Dad how he had handled controversy with my Mom in the early years of their marriage. He responded with a very short, simple but profound statement…”not everything deserves a comment”. WOW! Those 5 simple words made such an impact on me and has literally changed my life.

I can remember witnessing heated arguments between my parents when I was growing up. I often thought my Dad was weak, because as I got into my teen years, he would often let my Mother “rule the roost” in those disagreements. But I came to the knowledge years later through that specific Father/Daughter chat, that he was NOT weak at all! He was in fact, very wise!

The Bible tells us in the excerpt from The Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” No doubt my Dad was, and still is a Peacemaker. He could have continued to add fuel to those fires back in the day, but he often chose to battle the spiritual forces of evil, by turning away wrath instead of turning it toward my Mother.

When we allow the battles in our mind to take on such a stronghold where it manipulates our actions…we are giving in to those forces of evil.

I still struggle with being “mouthy” occasionally. It has been, and still is at times, a stumbling block for me. But I find that when I take control over the battles in my mind, when I think before I speak, when I choose grace instead of strife, that I take away ALL of Satan’s ammunition to control me or my tongue.

If you’re a little “mouthy” like me, won’t you consider letting these verses seep into your heart and take a stronghold… and let the battles of your mind find peace, as you become wiser still, while practicing to hold your tongue.

Power Verses:
James 1:19 (NLT)
“Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”

Proverbs 10:19 (NLT)
“When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.”