One of the fundamental problems of living in defeat stems from the fact that we inherently forget how much God loves us!! We forget that He so desperately wants to show us His plan for our lives, to have fellowship with us –He makes all things work together for our good ALL of the time! When the trials come our way His love and purpose for our lives is the first thing that comes under attack. The moment we take our focus and attention away from the voice of God - we begin to lose sight and get deceived into thinking we can solve our own problems / trials. Before long, we wonder how we have strayed so far. I have been learning in my own personal journey that it all stems from our personal thought process. If we aren’t monitoring the thoughts that come into our minds and paying close attention the enemy loves to take a simple negative thought and multiply it exponentially. The battle is for and over the mind. It has to be a conscious choice everyday to either listen to the negative / self defeating or self glorifying thoughts. (There are many other thought types I am just using these two as an example) Or you can take the alternative approach and take the battle seriously. One has to diligently pray away every one of these thoughts that are not honoring and glorifying to God.
As I am striving to go deeper into my own faith, I have had to, in the past, ask important questions of myself. For instance, how did I get so far away from the main important thing in my life – God? Life seemed to be going a long great but then—Wham! -- that’s when I seem to get attacked. It’s when we are comfortable, unaware. Before long, we become complacent. In recent months, I have been exploring this more in detail and challenging my own self in the area of my thought life. What I have come discover is that it’s much more difficult than it sounds; as I have become more keenly aware of my own short comings. I find myself having to ask for forgiveness for the same reoccurring thoughts as if it’s some sort of a broken record. You would think that once you recognize the problem you are able to make them all go away. Haha!! Well, there is my systematic approach. I have always thought that knowing what the problem is half the battle, yes, that is true. However, what good would it be to just know the problem without a tangible way to solve it? We would be constantly in self defeat for our own short comings. I think this illustrates so clearly our own desperate need for a savior! This is where we partner with God. Jesus gives us the power and ability to do what we can’t do on our own and that is to achieve victory! If Christians would truly harness this fully we would be able to make an impact in this world – by being that difference in the world!! Hypocrisy would be out the window! It all stems from the thoughts we have, the thoughts we listen to --- choose which one you will follow!! Understand that the battle is real.
Ephesians 6:13-19 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the day of evil, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with perseverance, making supplication got all the saints and also for me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel…”
