FAMILY: The War Inside

There is an Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

There is an enemy out there and he is out to steal, kill and destroy us as effective warriors for Christ.  One of his plans is to attack our minds.  It’s the war inside.

He wants us to think that we are worthless, that we have no value, that we won’t amount to anything, we don’t have what it takes and more. I’m sure that all of you have had those negative thoughts run through your mind. I have and have talked to a lot of people who have too.

Think on These Things

Philippians 4: 8-9 tells us to “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Colossians 3:2 also says to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

In other words, these verses are saying that we need to think about the good things that God says about us and our lives. Not the negative thoughts that the enemy plants in our minds.

So what does God say about us?

God’s Love Letter to You!

Please read God’s Love Letter about what God thinks of you below.

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.   Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.   Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.   Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.   Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.   Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.   Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.    Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.   Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.  Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.  Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.   Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.   Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.   Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.   Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.   John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.  1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.   1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.   1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.   Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.   Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.   James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.   Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.   Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.   Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.   Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.   Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.  Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.   Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.   Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.   Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.   Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.   Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.   2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.   Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.  Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.   Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.   Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.    John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.    John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.   Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.    Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.   1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.    Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.    1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.   Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.   Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.    Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child?     John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.    Luke 15:11-32

Love,

Your Dad.

Almighty God

Take Captive Every Thought

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I never knew that I had any control over the thoughts that ran in and out of my mind.  But according to this verse, it says that we can capture them and make them obedient to Christ Jesus.

So, how do you do that?  How do we take captive those negative thoughts that seem to come into our mind that don’t line up with God’s Word and what He thinks of us from His Love Letter that you read above.

Use the 4 R’s

When you have a thought that goes against what God says about you, I’d like to strongly encourage you to use The 4 R’s.  These are biblical and they are powerful!!!

The 1st R is to ‘Recognize’ any negative thought that runs through your mind that is not of God but the enemy.

The 2nd R is to ‘Refuse’ satan’s lie! Say “Not Me Satan!” Sometimes I’ll yell at myself by saying our loud, “Stop!” or “Stop It!!”

The 3rd R is to ‘Replace’ it with God’s truth of who you are in Christ.  What does scripture say about the thought or situation running through your mind?

The 4th R is to ‘Repeat’ the 4 R’s.  Believe me, satan will attempt to send another lie soon. Sometimes, within minutes. I’ll go through the day with many negative thoughts that are not of God and use the 4 R’s constantly.  If a thought pops up, I recognize it, refuse it, replace it, then repeat it!  Got it. This can be powerful!

Jesus Used the 4 R’s

In the Bible, Jesus was in the wilderness and he hadn’t eaten in 40 days. He was very hungry and extremely tired. He answered every temptation from Satan by using the 4 R’s.  Check it out.

Matthew 4:1-3 says “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

How did Jesus fight the devil?  Did he pull out his 9 Mil and point it at the devil and say “Back off satan”? 

No! He used the 4 R’s. He recognized it was a lie from satan. He refused it. He replaced it by reciting scripture.

From Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

He then got ready to repeat the 4 R’s because the enemy is not a one and done enemy.  He’ll use a barrage of attacks against us and he did against Jesus.

Matthew 4:5-6 says ‘Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

How did Jesus fight the devil?  Did he pull-out a pair of nunchucks say to satan “Hiiiiiyah, back down devil?” No!

He recognized it was a lie. He refused the lie. He replaced it by reciting scripture.

From Matthew 4:7 ‘Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” He then got ready to repeat the 4 R’s again because another attack from satan was coming.

Matthew 4:8-9 says “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Do you remember how Jesus fought the devil?  He pulled out a laptop, put on his headgear and called in a missile strike, right? NOOOOO!

He recognized it was a lie from the devil. He refused the lie.

In Matthew 4:10, it says “Away from me, Satan!” He replaced the lie by reciting scripture from Matthew 4:11

‘Jesus said to him, “‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.”

Three strikes satan!  YOU’RE OUT!!

If Jesus used the word of God to fight the devil, what makes us think that we can fight the devil with any weapon other than God’s Word.  Unfortunately, a lot of Christians try to.

Listen, God’s word can keep you from the enemy or the enemy can keep you from God’s Word. This world is not a playground, it’s a battleground and sometimes it can be a battlefield of the mind.

In other words, use Jesus’ example.  Put into practice The 4 R’s and think about what you thing about. This simple exercise is for all ages and can be life changing.