Ephesians 6:12 YLT We have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;
16-18 tells us to take the shield of faith, with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Take the helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching with all perseverance for all the saints.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There is a method for fighting every temptation, addiction or battle. Jesus told us. Paul told us and they both showed us.
Humans labor in prayer, often saying the same thing over and over. It is not effective and hurts a person’s confidence. If they pray over and over again and don’t see manifestation of the thing for which they pray, it causes the individual to lose hope.
The human brain stores information to be pulled from as needed in the future. When a situation presents itself, the human brain will search through its memories for similar information to help in the decision-making process. Files, in the form of memories, from past movies the individual digested, books they read and conversations with friends are just a few of the ways a human form their opinions. The truth is, many times the humans’ ideas, opinions and stand is based on faulty information which may or may not be true.
God is not a man that he should lie. We can be certain that the bible will not represent God as a liar. When the human is faced with a trial, temptation or circumstance which requires action, the human will draw from the well of knowledge that human has stored. Every human has a set of data which has been saved like files in their brain. When an individual hears or reads something that challenges who God is, the human brain will check for verification. Their soul will access the information previously uploaded to their memory. Depending on the frequency with which the files are accessed, the human may not consider all the information. In 1962 the human may have heard someone read John 3:16. That scripture indicates that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so those in the world could be saved. If 1962 is the last time the individual acknowledged that information, that human may access information that has been saved more recently. Perhaps the news broadcast reported that more Christians believe God is not merciful. The newspaper or a book might have described God as vindictive. A movie the human watched may have suggested that God doesn’t hear humans anymore. If these are the most recent unchallenged thoughts a human stored, they would not cause the human to automatically insist: God is righteous, merciful and loving.
This is where the battle of the mind is won or lost. The preparation a human does before they reach the battle is what helps them win or lose. During the human’s waking hours if they do not guard their mind, the enemy will suggest thoughts that work to destroy, steal and damage the human’s well-being.
John 10:10 recorded Jesus saying he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. He also said that the thief has come to steal, kill and destroy. Peter recorded his words in 1st Peter 5:8. He said, “Our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour.
There is no place in this earth where the devil and humans can co-habitat without the devil attempting to destroy the human. The good news is, we are not subject to the tricks of the enemy. God has given us everything we need to overcome and successfully live a victorious life. Humans are required to daily feed their spirit. It is necessary in maintaining a healthy thought life. The more files human has which demonstrates lust, greed, drama, war, sickness and destruction, the more prone that human is to think those thoughts. That is why Paul wrote, in his letter to the church at Philippi, those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
If humans maintained these two references and did them every day, there would be no war in our mind. The enemy has already been defeated. All we have to do is apply what God left us in his word. Cast down thoughts that are against God and his way of doing things. Dwell on or meditate on the good things God has promised us. We can put it in our files that God said to prove him. He said, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” If we file that in our memory, the devil will have no hope of telling us that God does not want us to prosper and be in health. If we choose to watch movies or read books or listen to news broadcast, that portray the humans as hurt, in danger, constantly in drama, then we will have drama. We draw to us what we consume. Jesus said if you lift me up, I will draw all men unto me.
God told us to acknowledge God in all our ways and he would direct our path. He did not tell us to speak about the mountain. He did not tell us to call everyone we know and explain in detail how horrible the situation could possibly get. He said to speak to the mountain.
Jesus said: “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:22–23)
Matthew 18:19 -20 Jesus said, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The problem is, well-meaning Christians will join their faith to confess the worse about a situation instead of binding the enemy and loosing the Holy Spirit. If humans would exercise their God-given right to stand firm together in faith instead of complaining, whining or confessing the worse they would see God work consistently for them. Unbelief exalts the problem. Faith exalts the solution and the way maker who is worthy!