Guarding Your Mind From the Enemy’s Negative Thoughts

I have had something on my mind all week, or maybe I should say I have had far too many things running through my mind. Negative things.

I found myself thinking negatively about myself, my family, my friends, and situations that normally would not bother me nearly as much. One thought would lead to another, and before long, I had created entire conversations and outcomes in my head that had never even happened.

Please tell me I am not the only one who can turn one small concern into a full-length movie, complete with a cast, costumes, and an ending nobody asked for.

At first, I treated these thoughts as though they were simply mine. But eventually, I stopped and asked myself an important question: Where are these thoughts leading me?

They were not leading me toward peace, patience, love, or trust in the Lord. They were leading me toward fear, irritation, discouragement, suspicion, and self-doubt.

That was when I realized I had been allowing the enemy far too much influence over my thoughts.

If the enemy can control the direction of our thoughts, he can begin steering our lives onto a course he wants rather than the life the Lord has planned for us.

Mary Magdalene Was Set Free by Jesus

Did you know that Mary Magdalene was suffering when Jesus met her?

Luke 8:1-2 (NIV)
¹After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

Luke tells us that seven demons had come out of Mary Magdalene.

Can you imagine the anguish and torment she must have experienced? The Bible does not tell us exactly how those evil spirits affected her, so we should be careful not to invent details that Scripture does not give us. But we know her suffering was real, and we know she could not free herself.

Jesus could.

After Jesus delivered Mary, she became one of His devoted followers. She traveled with Him, helped support His ministry, remained near the cross during His crucifixion, and went to His tomb after His death.

Mary had experienced the freeing power of Jesus firsthand. She knew who had rescued her, and she stayed close to Him.

Recognizing Spiritual Attacks on Our Thoughts

Thinking about Mary Magdalene made me take a harder look at my own thought life.

I am not saying that every negative thought means someone is possessed by a demon. Sometimes we are tired. Sometimes we are hurt. Sometimes hormones, stress, disappointment, grief, or fear can make everything look darker than it really is.

But I also do not think we should ignore the reality of spiritual warfare. The enemy does not always announce himself with something dramatic. Sometimes he simply plants a thought.

• You are not good enough.
• They do not really care about you.
• Something terrible is going to happen.
• You will never change.
• Your family would be better off without your input.
• Nobody appreciates you.

Then, instead of rejecting that thought, we pick it up, examine it, and carry it around all day. We add details to it. We look for evidence to support it. Before long, the thought has settled into our heart and begun affecting our words, attitudes, and actions.

A thought may enter our mind without our permission, but we do not have to let it live there.

The Enemy Wants to Direct Our Lives Through Our Thoughts

Our thoughts matter because they influence almost everything else.

• A fearful thought can keep us from obeying God.
• A suspicious thought can damage a relationship.
• A condemning thought can make us withdraw from people who love us.
• A prideful thought can keep us from apologizing.
• A discouraging thought can convince us to quit something the Lord has called us to do.

The enemy would love to keep us so distracted by imagined problems, old wounds, comparison, and insecurity that we stop paying attention to God’s truth.

Scripture tells us to be alert because the enemy is looking for opportunities to devour and destroy.

Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

We should not become frightened or obsessed with the devil, but we should not be careless about him either. Our attention belongs on Jesus, but part of following Jesus is learning to recognize voices that contradict His Word.

Taking Every Thought Captive

The Bible gives us clear instructions about what to do with thoughts that oppose the truth of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ 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.

We are told to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. That means we do not have to believe every thought that crosses our minds. We can stop and ask:

• Is this thought true?
• Does it agree with Scripture?
• Is it producing love, peace, patience, and self-control?
• Is it drawing me closer to the Lord or pulling me away from Him?
• Would Jesus speak to me this way?

Some thoughts need to be corrected. Others need to be confessed. And some need to be rejected immediately.

Taking our thoughts captive is not pretending everything is wonderful. It is refusing to let fear, shame, bitterness, or condemnation become our authority.

God’s Word is our authority.

Evicting the Spirit of Discouragement

The word discouragement contains the word courage. When we become discouraged, we lose the courage to keep moving forward.

The mountain begins to look too steep. The valley seems too dark. The battle feels too exhausting.

Discouragement whispers, “Why bother?” God reminds us that we are not walking alone.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

The Lord goes before us. He remains with us. He will not leave us or forsake us. Discouragement may knock on the door, but we do not have to invite it inside.

Evicting Negativity

Negativity has a sneaky way of multiplying.

One complaint finds another complaint, and before long, we can find something wrong with everyone and everything. I have even caught myself becoming annoyed at someone over a conversation that took place entirely in my imagination. That poor person did not even know we were fighting. Lol!

Negative thinking causes us to focus on faults, shortcomings, and everything that might go wrong. It affects the way we speak to others and the way we speak to ourselves.

Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Our words can pierce like a sword, or they can bring healing. That includes the words we silently repeat in our minds. We should never use “being realistic” as an excuse to rehearse hopelessness.

Evicting Comparison

Comparison is another thought pattern that steals our peace.

Social media has made comparison easier than ever. We see someone else’s beautiful home, happy marriage, successful career, stylish wardrobe, close family, or exciting vacation, and suddenly our own life seems lacking.

But we are usually comparing our everyday reality to someone else’s carefully selected highlights.

Comparison tells us that we are behind. God reminds us that we are walking a different path.

Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV)
⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load.

The Lord did not ask us to live someone else’s life. He asked us to faithfully live the one He gave us. Someone else’s blessings are not proof that God has forgotten us.

Guarding Your Heart and Mind From the Enemy

After reading about Mary Magdalene and examining the thoughts I had entertained, I prayed and asked the Lord to guard my heart and mind from the evil one.

Then, in the name of Jesus Christ, I told the devil that I rescinded any invitation I might have knowingly or unknowingly given him. I told him that he was not welcome in my heart, my mind, my home, or on any property I own.

I was not trusting in my own authority or strength. I was placing myself, my thoughts, and my home under the authority of Jesus Christ.

There is nothing magical about using certain words. Our protection and freedom come from Jesus, not from a perfectly phrased declaration. But there is power in clearly rejecting lies, confessing anything that has opened the door to sin, and submitting every part of our lives to the Lord.

James 4:7 (NIV)
⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

First, we submit ourselves to God. Then, we resist the devil.

We should not try to fight a spiritual battle while refusing to surrender to the Lord. Submission comes first.

Replacing Lies With God’s Truth

It is not enough to tell a negative thought to leave. We need to replace it with truth.

• When the thought says, “You are alone,” remember that God will never leave or forsake you.
• When it says, “You are worthless,” remember that you were created in the image of God and purchased at a great price.
• When it says, “Nothing will ever change,” remember that nothing is impossible with God.
• When it says, “You have ruined everything,” remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• When it says, “You cannot handle this,” remember that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

God tells us what to think about: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

• Notice that the verse begins with what is true.
• Not what we fear might happen.
• Not what insecurity tells us.
• Not what the enemy whispers.
• What is true.

Jesus Has Authority Over the Enemy

Mary Magdalene could not free herself, but Jesus had complete authority over what tormented her.

That same Jesus is still our Savior today.

Luke 10:19 (NIV)
¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Our confidence is not in our own strength. We do not defeat the enemy by being smarter, tougher, or more determined. We stand in the authority of Jesus Christ.

When troubling thoughts arise, we can pray. We can speak Scripture. We can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal lies we have believed. We can confess bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride, or fear. We can seek wise Christian counsel when we are struggling.

We can also remember that persistent anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, or other mental health struggles are not signs that someone lacks faith. God can work through pastors, trusted friends, counselors, and medical professionals. Asking for help is not spiritual failure.

What Thoughts Have You Been Entertaining?

Take a few quiet moments today and examine what has been running through your mind.

• Have you been entertaining discouragement?
• Negativity?
• Comparison?
• Fear?
• Bitterness?
• Condemnation?
• Suspicion?

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you which thoughts agree with God’s truth and which ones need to be evicted.

Then take those thoughts captive in the name of Jesus. You do not need to let the enemy set the direction of your life. You belong to the Lord, and He is able to guard your heart and your mind.

The enemy may knock, but you do not have to answer the door.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!

Let’s End With a Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and for never leaving me to fight my battles alone. Please search my heart and reveal every lie, fear, offense, and negative thought that I have allowed to take root.

Forgive me for the times I have listened to the voice of the enemy instead of resting in the truth of Your Word. Help me take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

Lord, guard my heart and my mind. Protect my family, my home, my relationships, and every place You have entrusted to me. I submit my life completely to You, and in the name of Jesus Christ, I reject every influence that is not from You.

Replace discouragement with courage, negativity with gratitude, comparison with contentment, fear with faith, and condemnation with the assurance of Your grace.

Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts and help me recognize Your voice. Fill my mind with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and direct my life according to Your will.

In Jesus’ name, amen.