Volume 83: Rest in Winning the War in Your Mind

I am currently rereading Craig Groeschel's book, "Winning the War in your Mind," and it's just as good the second time around. His overall motive of the book is that we are constantly in a spiritual war for our thoughts. 

He made the point that we put a lot of intentional effort into caring for what goes into our cars, pets, bodies, etc. but we rarely give attention to what goes into our minds. 

Yet, "what we think shapes who we are."

So we have to do better of recognizing the lies and replacing with truth! 

He states, "Studies reveal that we are bombarded by about five hundred unintentional and intrusive thoughts a day. Each unwanted thought lasts about fourteen seconds. Do the math. That's almost two hours a day of thoughts we do not want to think." 

An alarming statistic, yet not quite shocking. As I know for myself, I have to fight off lies often. 

But Craig doesn't stop there. He instructs that we can replace the lies and build trenches of truth. At first, it will feel awkward, just as riding a bike or driving a car was, but with more and more practice, the more natural it becomes. 

So here's to replacing the ruts formed by lies with trenches dug by truth! 

LIE: I am not the right person for my specific role in the summer. 

TRUTH: 

Colossians 3:17 --> And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Proverbs 16:3 --> Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

1 Corinthians 15:58 --> Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Esther 4:14 --> And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

DECLARATION: God has me exactly where he wants me and He equips me with everything I need. Every day, I am given unique opportunities to serve others and be a part of God's bigger plan at Camp Ozark. 

LIE: In my role, I am not able to develop personal relationships with staff because I am too busy.

TRUTH:

John 13:34 --> A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

1 John 4:7-8 --> Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Acts 20:35 --> In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Matthew 25:37-40 --> Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Romans 12:10 --> Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

DECLARATION: I am a relational person and love the people around me because I recognize that they are created in the image of God. I know that it is greater to give than to receive and keep my focus outward rather than inward. 

LIE: I am weak and not great at facing challenges that initially overwhelm me so I am someone who shuts down.

TRUTH:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 --> For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 -->  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Romans 8:37-38 --> No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DECLARATION: I am a beloved daughter of Christ and my worth is found in Him alone, not my performance or work. Any thought telling me I am weak or not capable is not from God. It is from the enemy and I do not listen to lies from the enemy. 

LIE: I am not good at having difficult conversations. 

TRUTH:

Ephesians 4:15-16 --> Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Joshua 1:8 --> This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Galatians 6:9 --> And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Matthew 10:19 --> When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

2 Timothy 3:16 --> All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

DECLARATION: I care about other people so I am willing to have the harder conversations to point us both back to truth. I have God's Word and the Holy Spirit to strengthen me for conversations so I am not alone. 

LIE: The Lord is not filling me up.

TRUTH:

Philippians 4:13 --> I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:4 --> Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

1 Peter 5:7 --> Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 46:1 --> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Corinthians 9:8 --> And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

John 6:35 --> Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Matthew 6:33 --> But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Isaiah 41:10 --> fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 55:22 --> Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

DECLARATION: No matter our personal circumstance or environment, God is always working in our lives. I look to Him above all else because He sustains me and always provides for me.