“GUARD YOUR HEART above all else, FOR IT DETERMINES THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.” (Prov. 4:23) At every point of our life, right living begins with right thinking. Thought makes us who we are. “For as a man thinks in his heart, SO IS HE…” (Prov. 23:7) When you entertain thoughts of rejection and failure, allowing images of failure to dominate your thinking, YOU ARE SETTING YOURSELF UP for those very things to happen. The negative things that you think will come to pass. If, on the other hand, you think in line with the Word of God and what God has to say about you, His perfect plan will come to pass in your life. IT TAKES DILIGENCE TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MIND, especially when you have thought a certain way for many years. But you can do it. “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but THE THINGS WHICH COME OUT OF HIM (his thoughts), those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 7:15-16)
Paul says it like this, “…the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down 1STRONGHOLDS, 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 Corin. 10:4-5) 1ochurōma: a place of fortification. The devil feeds us false beliefs and if we are not on guard we accept and believe these untruths. That’s why it is essential for us to prayerfully study the word so we can “CAST DOWN” these untruths and bring the truth of God’s word INTO CAPTIVITY in our minds. One way to cast down these negative thoughts is to replace them with reinforcing scriptural truths. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy…MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.” (Phil. 4:8)
-Bill Stockham