The Mind Is the Battlefield
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Strategy #4
Distraction
Examples:
Me, sitting in church, planning out my grocery list.
Me, in worship, eyes closed, hands raised, asking God what I should put on my menu for next week.
Me, praying for our nation, then wondering why this politician said this or that.
Plan of attack: LOOKING AT JESUS
Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)
12 Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
This scripture tells me that I am to look away from all that distracts me from my Jesus. At my best, I want to, but still I am continually bombarded with distractions. I can't in my own power. I must depend upon Him to be my help. I call out to Him. Surely, He answers me. The more I call upon Him for help, the more I am able to look away from the distractions. All distractions are meant to make me miss time with my Lord. I am recognizing that. This is not lessening the distractions but rather helping my focus.
Psalm 86:11 (AMP)
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart [solely, reverently] to fear and honor Your name.0 -
Love reading through all these comments and topics. Thanks to all the people who take the time to write these out, I like the verses shared, also!0
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Someone suggested that I share this ...so I think I will.
I am so good at negative thinking, I think it's because I installed that sort of thinking in me at a young age, and I never questioned my thoughts. I didn't challenge them, I just believed them. I thought they were all true. Realizing now that I can't believe everything I think... I have to evaluate my thoughts, if it's negative...it's only pushing me on the wrong path . Positive thoughts are most healthy and help me reach my goal quicker.... I think Satan likes to throw hot darts at us too...tempt us with negative thoughts to discourage us!
"...And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
God can renew our mind, which helps us have a Godly attitude.
We need to take every thought captive:
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
If I listen to Gods voice, he would never think the things I think. He encourages me. Like the casting crowns song (Voice Of Truth) I love that song, it reminds me that the only voice I need to worry about is Gods, and it doesn't matter if other people say harmful or critical things about me... I can rest assured that God thinks highly of me.
Gods voice agrees with his word, and in the bible he tells us that we are all wonderfully made... Any voice that doesn't agree with Gods voice should be rejected.
If it's hard for you to stop negative self talk , try this next time :
"If Jesus were standing here beside me now (bodily), is this what He would be whispering in my ear?"
Think about what he would say. Don't think about what others have said to you.
Mandi0 -
Mandi,
Thank you so much for sharing that! Your practical suggestion is great:
"If it's hard for you to stop negative self talk , try this next time :
"If Jesus were standing here beside me now (bodily), is this what He would be whispering in my ear?"
Think about what he would say. Don't think about what others have said to you. "
WOW! That certainly puts our negative self-talk into perspective. I will definitely try that!
Ali0 -
Sisters:
I am lead by the Lord Jesus to tell you this, right now, at this time.
I have been having so many problems getting this Bible Study done. Truthfully, I have not read but 2-3 pages of the book, and have NEVER opened either of the 2 work books, OR the extra inspirational guide I bought.
Why?
I give up when I am feeling overwhelmed. My life is super crazy-I thought retirement would be a piece of cake-(Oh yeah, plus a bag of cookies and a few candy bars later)-my schedule is crammed full of stuff.
Tomorrow, in example, I have not 1, not 2, but 3 appt's at the VA.
I have about 20 appts before the end of the year-that is, if I am not having another surgery.
SOOOO..what I am trying to get across to you, is: I cannot see how you are al managing it. To take care of your families (I do not even cook), to WORK 8-12 hours a day, to read your Bible, digest what you have read, and then thoughtfully put it down in a post we can all learn from.
Are any of you feeling overwhelmed? Let me pray for US then:
Father: What a BLESSING you are to us. Father, my sister's, my friends, these ladies I love may also struggle with getting it all done in a 24 hour day. I Father, have the liberty to stay up all night, as I do not have to go to work, and be coherent-but, many of these ladies do. Father, I pray, for all our sakes, you help us fit the important things in, possibly help us order our day-show us what is important to be done today, let us get that done, and then SLEEP PEACEFULLY-instead of fretting all night, which I frequently do.
Father, I stand upon your word, that if I seek you WITH ALL MY HEART, I WILL FIND YOU. Lord, I am seeking. I want to honor you. I want to walk in your footsteps. I want you to CHANGE MY HEART, so that it seeks you FIRST, not as an afterthought.
Please father, help us all to put you in the forefront of our minds, not hiding in the cobwebs. Father, if I am the only one who feels overwhelmed-then let this prayer be from me only-but if not, give us all grace, wisdom, and teach us to time management.
In Jesus, Amen!
Ladies..I truly believe we needed this prayer! Off to do my late Bible study now..
Peace be with you!
Sis Nicolette=Snitch10 -
Okay, so I'm a little miffed at MFP for losing my first attempt at this post...will try really hard not to be angry. Let's try this again. *sigh* And I was almost done too!!!!!!! :sad: :explode: Because of this, my answers will not be condensed as I forgot half of what I had written. :mad:
(BTW I completely this chapter weeks ago, but didn't see that there was a Chapter 1 here, only saw Chapter 3, so was waiting to post until, well, now.
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1. What is my hardest situation now, and can I recognize the enemy's strategy?
My hardest situation now is giving up control. These past 2 weeks have been the toughest for me emotionally, physically & mentally. Between 3 jobs, school, homework, church, working out and trying to have some form of a social life, it all leads to one thing....I AM EXHAUSTED!!!! And because of the stress from everything piling up, my hectic busy schedule not allowing me to go to the gym these past 2 weeks (which is my emotional outlet right now), I've been a bomb waiting to explode. But you see, I don't explode on the outside. I implode. On myself. I take back all control that I had given Him, and begin to TRY to control everything around me. And since I know that, practically, I cannot do that, I take control of the one thing that I have over myself: my eating. And I LOSE control. Last week saw me eating over 1000 calories extra on multiple days. And, frankly, though I felt bad, I didn't care at the time. It was afterwards that I kept hearing the enemy's voice, "You're a failure. Quit. You can't do this. Why are you bothering? You'll always be fat. You're past attempts have never been successful, so why are you bothering doing this now?"
And for 2 weeks, I listened to that voice in my head. And I gave up. Oh, I kept logging...to the honest truth of it all. But I gave up and listened to that defeatest voice.
Until this recent week. When I took my tired self to the gym and said, "YOU WILL DO THIS!!!!!"
Which leads me to.....
2. What am I holding fast to? Is it what I feel, see, patterns of thinking?
This had me thinking. I'm holding fast to several things. I'll explain a little more on each.
2 weeks ago, I was holding fast to what I was feeling. THAT was my reality. No more, no less. My counselor told me several years ago that victims of sexual abuse have this crazy insane need (okay, she didn't use the words crazy insane :laugh: ) need to control things around them, because they could not control the abuse. So, they have to find something in their lives to create that "balance" (for lack of a better word). For me, my triggers of control are food, or lack of control, shall I say. When I'm under duress, I will lose all control and stuff my face, til I am sick, literally. I've actually had to call out from work because of this (which is VERY rare for me to ever be absent!!). These past few weeks, I had been holding on to a false reality of emotions and sight. The fake reality told me I was worthless, a piece of trash, and that I would never overcome this.
This week, this week, I went into crazy insane battle mode. I woke up and said, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! Devil, I WILL NOT GIVE IN TO YOU." So, I changed my mindset.
I am more than a conqueror. I am a victor, NOT the victim. I am an overcomer. I am a world-changer. I am the head, and not the tail. I am above, and not beneath. I am loved and be-loved. I am a delight. I am in Him, and the fruit I produce IS GOOD AND SWEET, because I have the river of living waters flowing out of me.
I changed my mind, and began to speak the scriptures in my mind first, before I ever vocalized them.
And I went on that cardio machine and KILLED IT!!!! And sobbed while doing it. Why? Because I could hear the enemy once again start saying, "Quit. You ALWAYS quit when it's too hard. You've ALWAYS been a quitter your whole life. You've always been a loser." And my reply was, "Devil, you lost me long ago! You can't have me back! I REFUSE TO GIVE IN TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE DEFEATED! I will not quit! I will not back down! I. AM. NOT. A. QUITTER!" I sobbed during this whole time, with sweat rolling down my face, on that machine (thank God they couldn't tell what was tears and what was sweat!!).
Not only that, but He has been giving me or reminding me of prophetic words that have been spoken over me. I'll give you an example:
Almost to the day a year ago, while I was cleaning this past weekend, I found this tucked away in a very random corner of my world: "He sees your heart, and how you've been asking Him for things in your heart, sometimes without ever opening your mouth. He wants you to ask Him. He delights in giving you what you ask Him for."
And I was once again blown away by His faithfulness. You would think after the week of crap, over-eating and binge eating, plus no workouts, that I would have blown up like a balloon on steroids. No. Nope. He proved faithful!!
Not only did I lose the 1 lb I had gained from last time, I LOST AN ADDITIONAL 2 LBS for a total weight loss this week of 2.8 lbs, the lowest I have seen!!!!!!!
Yes, my Abba is faithful, and quick to prove Himself good, just and loving. 0
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