“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, CASTING (violently throw down) DOWN IMAGINATIONS and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) What are Imaginations? “The act or power of forming mental images of what IS NOT ACTUALLY PRESENT.” The Human mind has been designed by God, to focus on one subject at a time. Narayan Rao Machavaram, Consultant Psychologist and Psychotherapist at Vasavi.
So, if we are thinking a negative thought, we need to “CAST IT DOWN” by REPLACING IT with a positive thought. For example, if the devil says, “you can’t do this” we say “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). For you see Will, “…the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the PULLING DOWN of strongholds…” (2 Corinthians 10:4) These strongholds are arguments and reasonings by which someone engages in a dispute or disagreement and tries to fortify his opinion against another. We could call them “fiery darts of the enemy” (Ephesians 6:16), that the devil uses to bring confusion and tries to complicate, hinder or even destroy our faith and trust in God and all that He is and has promised.
Words and thoughts are so important, because they form images. Often the words that you hear strengthen the thoughts or images that you entertain. If negative and doubt filled words are what you hear, then it strengthens those thoughts. If positive, and faith filled words are what you hear, then it strengthens those thoughts. The images that you receive cause you to believe, and become manifested through your faith, the imaginations that you entertain with your thought life. Casting down imaginations from the enemy is a great tool of spiritual warfare, and one of the first strategies that you must employ to experience victories.
We cannot resurrect the dead or heal the sick if we’ve have received the devils imaginations, telling us that IT CANNOT BE DONE. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, he who believes in Me, the works that I do HE WILL DO ALSO; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I WILL DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask ANYTHING in My name, I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:12-14)
-Bill Stockham