The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:4-5
Our thoughts are our most powerful characteristic. Our ability to think, reason, and create set humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Our thoughts derive from ideas and conclusions of how we see and interpret the world around us. They determine how we know ourselves, others, and God. In essence, our thoughts dictate everything we know to be true.
Here on earth, we live in a battle between two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of evil. As believers, we have an enemy whose goal is to make us doubt God’s Word and silence His truth. Doubt, fear, confusion, pride, deception, shame, lies–these are the strongholds by which we are held captive. I’m not talking about a physical captivity, although it is possible. I’m speaking of a mental captivity. Our enemy can’t kill our souls, but he’ll try to steal our thoughts. So, I ask you, what’s on your mind? What self-defeating thoughts are holding you captive and keeping you from speaking God’s truth?
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.”
Friend, the same is true with our minds. Every thought we have, every idea that our minds shape is either claimed by God or counterclaimed by Satan. We are in an ongoing war, and there is no neutral ground, but there is good news. You don’t have to be held captive by the self-defeating thoughts of our enemy. God has given you everything you need to not only be free of Satan’s strongholds, but to fight with weapons that have already claimed the victory.
Colossians 2:13-15 states, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Did you catch that last part? God has already triumphed over Satan and his authorities. He’s already disarmed them, even made a spectacle of them–meaning He acted, and everyone else simply watched.
If we, who believe in Jesus Christ, believe that He died to conquer the enemy of our souls and set us free from captivity, then why would we give Satan a square inch of our minds or a split second of our thoughts to keep us from sharing God’s truth? Satan isn’t the one who holds any of the power, God does.
It’s by God’s strength, and His power and truth that we are equipped with the weapons to demolish every spiritual stronghold.
We may live in a battle of two kingdoms but Jesus has already fought the fight for us and secured our victory. It’s through his finished work on the cross we are called to take up his blood-stained armor already used for battle and stand in His strength alone in order to take captive every thought we have that sets itself against the knowledge of God.
Spiritual warfare is real. The battle in our minds is real. But, God is real, too. His love is real. His protection is real. His victory is real, and by His power, we fight from a place of victory.
-Brittany
What does the armor of God mean to you? Let's talk about it in the comments below.
About Brittany:
Brittany is a wife, mom of five, and owner of Living Truth Collective. She has a sincere passion for equipping women in God’s truth. Her passion for biblical studies and psychology has led her to pursue her Masters in Clinical Mental Health from Liberty University so she can be better equipped to serve others.
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