“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” (Ephesians 6:10-14)
An important way to stay healthy is to have a healthy mindset. Our thoughts contribute greatly to our physical health. We always have a battle going on regarding our thoughts. We do not struggle against flesh and blood. If you struggle with your self-worth, fears, anger, and a number of other negative emotions and thoughts, it will greatly affect your physical health. These false thoughts that we struggle with are called false beliefs or strongholds. We believe these thoughts on a heart level.
We may say we believe God loves us, but do we really believe it in our heart? We all must battle to maintain truth in our souls. The battles that we face, as the days grow darker, are intense and downright vicious.
How do we hear? Jesus said to His disciples, “The prince of this world is coming but he has nothing in Me” (John 14). We see it as a hand-held remote for any electronic device or toy. There is no actual physical connection between the remote and the device, but there is something in the device that corresponds to something in the remote. A signal is sent which finds a receiver in the device and a response happens.
When Jesus said that the prince of this world had nothing in Him, it meant that the devil could begin to hurtle every imaginable signal in evil speaking, abuse, rejection, danger, worry and unimaginable fears, and they would find no place to rest in Jesus. If anyone ever had a reason for hopelessness, dejection, fear, anxiety, anger or bitterness, Jesus did. He was mocked, beaten, misunderstood, falsely accused and more. Yet Scripture says that for the joy that was before Him, He endured the cross and despised the shame.
Ways to Win the Battle
“Finally, brothers, 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” (Phil. 4:8).
How can we win this battle that goes on in our mind that causes sickness and disease? We can be like Jesus if we put into use what He has provided for us. Below are some ways to do this:
- Realize that you will be under constant attack in your thoughts – There will not be a day in which you can take off your armor and take it easy. Understand that there is a battlefield in your mind. Ask God to help you be aware of your thought life.
“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” (Ephesians 6:12). - Realize that your emotions are a barometer of spiritual fortitude – If you are defeated by depression, anxiety, anger, bitterness or having any emotion contrary to the peace and joy that comes from your well-being in Christ, then you are under attack. You are not taking you stand against the devil’s schemes in your life.
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11). - Realize that your weapons have divine power – Think about the fact that we can be strong in God’s mighty power with His armor. It would not be too much to say that spiritually speaking we are coming against an anthill with a nuclear bomb. We have the responsibility to raise the weapons and use them.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). - Realize that your thoughts are behind every emotion – We must identify what we are thinking at the time of a spiritual attack and compare it with what the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit) says. The thought that we have allowed to have access is what we are to confess as sin. 1 John 1:9 can be applied.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). - Realize that the truth will set you free – We must know God’s truth in our hearts, and we must say “no” to the enemy’s lies. We must learn to stand firm with the belt of truth in the day of evil attack. Think of who God is, what Christ has done, and who you are in Him, and this truth will set you free.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14).
Imagine a father holding his newborn son in his arms saying, “Son, I love you and I will always be here for you.“ And the next day he takes the son and says the same thing, “Son, I love you and I will always be here for you.” The next day he says the same. Time passes and every day the same. Into the second year, third, and up to the fifth on into the child’s teen years, “Son, I love you and I will always be here for you.” But one day the young man looks at his aging father and says, “Father, every day of my life you have said, ‘Son, I love you and I will always be here for you. But I was told that you can not be trusted.‘”
How would the father feel?
Our Father in heaven has spoken to us at many times and in many ways. He speaks to us through creation, through the Word and through the death of Jesus. He says, “I love you, I love you. I am with you always. Do not fear.” But in times of spiritual struggle, we allow the thought that contradicts His Word. That is offensive and a transgression. When we confess it as sin, Christ’ blood immediately cleanses and sets us free.
We are in a battle, but we can be victors. We do not have to believe the lies of the enemy. We can win this battle that goes on in our hearts and minds. We can believe the truth about what God says about us. We can stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist.
Your physical health matters greatly to God. He does not want you to entertain negative thoughts that bring negative emotions that then wear down and destroy your physical body. He wants you to live a healthy life and have healthy thoughts and emotions. We must all be aware of our negative thinking patterns and bring them to the Cross. Jesus will give you the victory as you stand firm in His Word.
Let’s together stand strong with healthy thinking.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers,
stand firm. Let nothing move you”
(1 Corinthians 15:57-58).