Have you ever wanted to give up? Have you ever felt unloved? Have you ever felt alone and that no one cares? Satan loves to put these lies in our minds. He wants us to separate ourselves from everyone: family, friends, and the church because in isolation, he can add more lies into our thoughts.
The Battle
A few weeks ago, I was at a youth service when a beautiful young person said,
“Please pray for me. I am so depressed, and I have been fighting suicidal thoughts.”
She was so sincere. Her battle had been very intense. It does not matter if you are young or old; these are the lies we hear in our minds often.
God’s Love
Her situation reminded me of how much our God loves us. In John 3:16, the Word says.
“…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This scripture is so powerful. God loves you and me so much that he sent his son Jesus to die for us so that we could have life and have it with peace.
There is no battle too big for God. He is always with you. There is no problem he cannot handle. There is no secret he does not know.
Your Thoughts
In Proverbs 23:7, the bible says
“…for as a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
What are you thinking? Are your thoughts happy, joyful, and good, or are they negative and filled with “I can’t”? If Satan can cause us to doubt God, live in fear, be discouraged, feel unloved, be depressed, isolate ourselves from the ones that love us so much, then the battle will try to destroy us and steal our peace and joy.
We have to let God direct us. We must refuse to let these negative thoughts take over our minds. We have to refuse them. James 4:7 says,
“Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
How do you submit to God? Open your heart up to Him. Tell him your hurts and your pains. Ask him to create a pure heart in you. Ask him to heal your brokenness. Pray. Read his Word and apply it to your life. Be accountable to someone that loves you and loves God. Praise God. Fill your mind with good thoughts. Worship Him—desire positive thoughts over negative thoughts. Be careful what you listen to and watch. Make positive choices.
Decisions
Choose to rejoice in the Lord every day. Choose to be happy. Choose to press beyond your thoughts and go after God with your whole heart. One of my favorite scriptures in the New Testament is Philippians 4:4-9.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the PEACE of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.” (emphasis mine)
This scripture guided me so many times when I was in an intense battle in my mind. I have to choose to rejoice. I have to choose to pray and talk to God about what is bothering me. I have to make positive choices about spending more time with God and reading his Word. I have to choose to pay attention to what I allow to fill my mind. The choice is yours. Decide to take back control of your mind and let God give you the peace that will set your mind free.
Patti League
Lean into Jesus Ministries
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