There is a war raging in many of us that battles for control. It starts in our thoughts and it is often a bloody scene. We are told how to guard our hearts with peace, but we fight against the first thought, the carnal, and the bigger, unseen spiritual battle that entraps and snares us. Somehow we believe the lies instead of the Truth, and they become the deceptions that keep us weighted down in a daily onslaught of negativity combat.

We are taught to take every thought captive. (2 Cor 10:5) We are told to rejoice always, to be anxious for nothing, to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…anything excellent or praiseworthy–think about these things, and twice in one passage there is the promise of God’s peace which passes all understanding. (Phil. 4:4-9)

Joyce Meyer captures this concept so well in Daily Battles of the Mind: “Many of us have given in to deception at one time or another. How can these strongholds be torn down? We must be willing to receive the light of Truth in our minds. Our search for Truth begins in God’s Word, which says that the Truth will set us free (see John 8:32). This means we can be free from bondage, sin and strongholds in our minds. But just searching for Truth won’t set us free. We must be courageous enough to also believe the Truth.

Even when the Truth illuminates what’s inside of us, it’s sometimes hard to accept. It’s a painful process to face our deceptions and deal with them. It’s so easy to allow our past and how we were raised to negatively affect us for the rest of our lives. Our past may explain why we’re suffering, but we must not use it as an excuse to stay in bondage. You may have some major strongholds in your life that need to be torn down. Let me encourage you by saying, “God is on your side.” There is a war going on, and your mind is the battlefield. But the good news is that God is fighting on your side!”

Press on. I don’t know if this was for anyone but me today, but I write to tell you this battle’s already been fought and won. There’s hope and a victory waiting.