When I was in my early twenties, and recently saved, I was bombarded with negative thoughts and emotions. And being a new Christian, I didn’t realize for some time that God had actually equipped me to resist the onslaught of the enemy whose only goal was to keep me ignorant and weak.
But over time, I gained knowledge of the truth. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man [mature], I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).
Learning who I was in Christ was pivotal to my daily life. And learning how to speak and reason as an “adult” Christian (if I can use that term) made a big difference in my joy, my peace, and was often the key factor in my victories or defeats. But here’s something I’ve recently realized:
The older we get, the more memories we have.
The more memories we have, the more ammunition the devil has.
The devil’s favorite weapon of choice is a thought.
In other words, he weasels into our lives by planting condemning thoughts, taunting us with condemnation, guilt, and self-destruction. It starts as a suggestion but once we take the bait, he’s in the door and must be dealt with.
The problem with time is that the enemy has such a variety of bombarding thoughts to choose from now. For example, he can use my mistakes to make me feel inferior and stupid when I meditate on them. But my victories can be just as damaging if I fall for the temptation to either believe I’m something super special, or worse, believe that a past victory was a once-in-a-lifetime moment and now I’m useless.
Do you see how this works?
Your thought life is the devil’s playground.
But God has something to say about that. “For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, AMP).
Did you notice the scriptures describes the devil’s weapons as “sophisticated arguments”? This isn’t meant to be a compliment, but it is however, accurate.
The enemy has had time to work on his strategies against our mind, and for the most part, has done a fairly decent job of keeping Christians ignorant of his devices. BUT this same passage tells us about OUR WEAPONS– they aren’t natural (or carnal). They are extremely mighty!
The greatest weapon you possess is your voice.
Throughout the Bible, instruction is repeated regarding the power of our tongue (our voice). In it is life and death, blessing and cursing. The enemy wants to use it for self-destruction but God wants us to use your voice as a mighty weapon of devil-destruction! Paul said, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13).
Speak what? Let me give you a few things I’ve learned to say when my thoughts are contrary to the true knowledge of God and who I am in Christ:
● No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
● That’s NOT my thought, I don’t receive it.
● I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me and empowered me.
● I can do all things through Christ Jesus.
● God loves me. I am not a mistake. I am not weak in faith.
● I know who I am in Christ — I am a child of the living God with the ability to speak His truth!
● I will not meditate on the lies of the enemy.
● I plead the blood of Jesus over my mind and thoughts.
● I have peace that passes all understanding to guard my heart and mind in Christ.
● I am the righteousness of God in Christ!
Can you see how this works? You are currently reading this, but these truths are only half-powerful when you process them through your mind. YOU MUST SPEAK TRUTH ALOUD. Your voice is the address of your authority.
“Resist the devil [with your voice] and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, my paraphrase).
I am older and a bit wiser now, yet I recently realized the devil was using some past victories to make me feel inferior and lost when really the truth is, a past victory is a current victory! I haven’t lost a thing– and neither have you. The devil simply wants to derail us!
Don’t let him!
Use your voice. Speak your faith. The weapons of your warfare are mighty!
