Have you ever noticed the day you decided not to do a certain thing is the day you couldn't stop thinking about it? Maybe you decided to go on a diet, but all you could think about was food. Or perhaps you've been upset over something someone said about you. You chose to forgive him for what he said, but the very day you made that decision all you can think about is what he said.
Thoughts are powerful because they are precursors to actions. Everything you've ever done in your life was first conceived in your mind. That's why learning to control our minds and replace bad thoughts with something good is important.
Think of your mind as a battle ground but not as a playground. Your mind is something you should take very seriously because it's the place where victories are either won or lost. If you treat your mind as just a place to play and have fun, you'll open the door to the enemy and he'll take advantage you leading you into defeat, discouragement, and ultimately into disobedience. The devil is like the park "bully" who go's around picking on other kids.
You may not be able to control what comes into your mind, but you can control what stay there! God considers your thoughts so important He actually made a list for you to compare them with so that you don't go off in the ditch on either side of the road. (See Phil. 4:8).
Be assured that you can control your thoughts. How do I know this? The Bible instructs us to bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5. Yes, sometimes this is easier said than done, but it's not impossible and it's absolutely necessary if you really want victory.
The questions becomes, what do you use to combat thoughts? The answer: WORDS! Words are stronger than thought. If you start talking, your mind will shut up to hear what it is you're saying. If you don't believe it, try counting money while someone yells different numbers. You'll soon lose track and before long you have to start over.
Personally there are several things I do when when I need to bring my thoughts into captivity.
First, I speak to the thought and inform it that it's not welcome. I might say something like, "discouragement you were not invited and you're certainly not welcome, so in the name of Jesus be gone now!"
Second, I will use the scripture as a weapon against particular thoughts. If thoughts of fear attempt to enter my mind I will say something like this. "Fear, I take authority over you in Jesus name! According to the Word, I've not be given a spirit of fear so I resist you and command you to go now."
The bottom line is: you believe what you say more than you believe what anybody says! If this is true, then the most important thing you could say is what God says. If you'll say what God says, your faith will increase and develop making a huge difference in your life. Faith only develops one way. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).
Jesus defeated the devil with words. In fact, He used the Word of God and cut the him to pieces. (See Matt. 4).
QUESTION: Can you relate a circumstance when you spoke the Word of God and gained victory over your thoughts?
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