2 Corinthians 10:1-6 – “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” NKJV

It has been my experience in life, both in practice and observation, that too many people just do not know how to fight.  They fight but as one ‘beating the air’ and ‘shadow boxing’ without really accomplishing anything except utter exhaustion and disappointment.  I’ve observed people try to fight spiritual battles with natural weapons and usually end up dividing and alienating other people rather than accomplishing the objective of God and the Spirit of God which is always ‘reconciliation’ and ‘liberty.’

Paul makes it clear that we cannot divest ourselves of ‘the flesh’ we live in an earthly tabernacle of clay called FLESH.  We will battle ‘fleshly tendencies’ as long as we remain on this planet or in this life.  However, he made it equally clear that our ‘battles’ are not to be fought in the natural but the spiritual and that those weapons afforded or supplied to us by God Himself are ‘mighty’ able to pull down ‘strongholds’ and bring every thought into obedience to Christ.  That is powerful!

This leads to the thought that at least part of the battle is waged in the mind.  If we get our thinking right, we will get our acting right, our living right, and our relationships right.  We are not what we think we are, but we are a product of what we think.  We are the product of what we allow to be planted, grow, and develop in our minds.  Our ‘thought life’ is incredibly important and a key part of our ‘spiritual weaponry’ and ‘spiritual warfare.’  Too many fail to comprehend this and never seek to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our THOUGHTS but let them run around unsupervised and unbridled.  That is not only dangerous it is destructive.

If we are to learn how to fight, we must learn how to bring our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and thereby pull-down strongholds.  We must be ready to bring rogue and destructive thoughts to the Cross and allow them to be crucified there with Jesus nailing them to the Cross and having them covered with the precious blood of Jesus. 

Our thoughts are far more important to our victory in our Christian walk than most are willing to acknowledge because to acknowledge that would mean that they have to take responsibility for what they think.  They could no longer declare, “Well I can’t help thoughts coming.”  That is true but you can prevent them from staying!  You can prevent them from being able to take root and grow.  You are responsible for WHAT YOU THINK.  Our entire person belongs to God, not just parts!

As you go through this day go with the realization that your thoughts are important, and you are responsible for what you think. 

God bless you as you go through your day!