Guiding the Mind

“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.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

There is an invisible war raging at all times. It is not primarily a physical battle, but a spiritual one. It is not even just a moral battle, but also a mental one. It is a war that is in the mind, of the mind, and for the mind. According to 2 Corinthians 10:5, this battle is all about knowledge, thoughts, pretensions, and arguments. It is the war for the Christian mind.

The first thing that God changes once you become a follower of Jesus is not just your heart, but also your mind. Before you come to Jesus, your mind is enemy-held territory. Colossians 1:21 says, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” When you become a follower of Jesus, God moves in and takes control over your soul, your heart, your body, and your mind. He wants to guide you in your mind and thoughts. He wants to not only direct you in how you live, but in how you think.

As a follower of Christ, you are going to live in one of two ways. Either your mind is going to guide you in how you think and how you live, or, you are going to guide your mind in how it thinks, and therefore how you live. You have to guide your mind in where it can go and where it can’t, where it can stay and where it can’t, and where it can live and where it can’t.

So how do you make sure that you are guiding your mind? The answer is by taking control of your thought life and making it obedient to Christ. This means subjecting all of your thinking to the truth that is found in Christ alone. The more you saturate your mind with the things of Christ, the more you will guide your mind in the way that pleases and honors Him.

Dear Lord, thank you for this reminder of what a pivotal role my mind plays in my walk with you. Please help me to live a life where I guide my mind, rather than a life where my mind is guiding me. Help me to be diligent and intentional about dwelling in your presence and meditating on your truth so that my mind will be aligned with you. In Jesus' name, amen.