2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
The biggest battle every believer faces is the battle for the mind. The mind is the strategic battlefield where satan and evil spirits contend against the truth of God’s Word. Our thought life influences both our beliefs and our behavior. We cannot always believe everything we think because what we think isn’t always in line with God’s Word. We have to filter every thought through the standard of God’s Word (Philippians 4:8) and bring into captivity every thought contrary to the Word of God.
Many Christians do not fully understand this battle in their mind for their thoughts. They assume that all thoughts in their mind are their thoughts and that every thought is a reflection of who they are or the way life is. They therefore reason that there is not much that can be done to change their thoughts. They live their life like they believe “All my thoughts are my own, coming from my own heart and mind and are just something I need to live with.” They don’t recognize things such as negative thinking as negative thinking; anxious thinking as anxious thinking; depressed thinking as depressed thinking; or critical thinking as critical thinking. They see it as normal and their own thinking. They do not sort or screen any thoughts and as a result the enemy can build a stronghold, fortress, or place in their thinking to manipulate them from.
What they need to learn is that Jesus paid the price for us to have the mind of Christ which is given to us as a provision of grace but it must be possessed. The Word of God is the standard of the mind of Christ and we need to examine every thought in the light of it. Winning the battle for the mind is a process we can learn to RECOGNIZE; RESIST; and REPLACE.
1. RECOGNIZE that it is your mind (Rm.12:2) but every thought in it is not yours (Eph.2:2,3; 2 Cor.4:4).
2. RESIST every thought contrary to the Word of God and demolish it by speaking the Word of God against it 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Matt. 4:1-10).
3. REPLACE every wrong thought with God’s Word (Phil. 4:8) and renew your mind with it (Rm. 12:2).
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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