Covenant Community Services
June 23, 2009
Mindfields ... Navigation and Safety
Part 1
Greetings!
A mine is a device set under or on the ground that is designed to explode when triggered by an enemy. The mine field is an area laced with mines. A mine is a tactic used in war to slow the enemy and to maximize strength of defense. For example, a three person defense could slow down a 100 person army with a mine field. Currently, mines are used in Iraq and Afghanistan as "IED's" or improvised explosive devices. Mines can destroy and to defeat the enemy they must be overcome.
 
Our mind is a device used to navigate life. Our mind was once filled with God thoughts but that all changed with sin. Now, our minds wander far from God and have created "mind fields" that slow our progress and defeat our purpose. For the next two devotions, we will look into the "Mind fields" of our lives and examine God's Word for direction, detection and discernment.
 
This past week, I was travelling across our great country. I noticed the need to sharpen my mind as many "mind fields" became evident. As followers of Jesus, in a war for the Kingdom, we must be aware that a battle rages for our mind. We are tempted, discouraged, doubted, and dissuaded by the enemy of our soul to slow our progress on our march to victory. We must recognize the enemy's attack and carefully dismantle the "mind fields" or avoid them all together.
 
Taking Control of the Mindfield!
 
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 
 
~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ~
Securing the Borders of your Mind
 
The warfare of a follower of Jesus is not like that of a modern day solider. True, there are similarities but the are great differences. Scripture tells us in Genesis 6:5, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." You see, a follower of Jesus must fight in the battle field of the mind before we face the fight against outside forces. We fight moment to moment and no one around us even knows what is a happening.
 
Our mind is a powerful tool and gift from God that can both comprehend the glory of God and think the vilest thought. Our mind is a battlefield. The first step to victory is realizing we are at war. There is a great war for your mind and you must secure your borders.
 
Securing the borders of our mind involves using it for God's Kingdom and His purposes and seeing God in all things. It is when we separate God from the mundane of life that we are exposed to the Mind fields and destruction awaits. When we focus our day as God's day and give Him control of our mind through our Spirit it is here we have victory.
 
It was years's ago, but I remember someone praying for me and "binding the devil" and I recall thinking in my mind, "I don't need to bind the Devil  ... I need to bind my mind and walk in the Spirit!" The enemy is a great trickster and if he can lay a mine in your "mind field" he will. He will do this to slow you down and rob you of victory.
 
Our response to the threat and attack on our mind is to submit our thoughts to God. "Run it by the cross" is the phrase I have said to my kids. If your thought cannot pass this examination then it is useless. As followers of Jesus, we have a right to "take thoughts captive". We do not need to suppress them but destroy them. To defeat a mine field you don't just walk around it and act like it isn't there, you blow it up. We need to do this with our thoughts. This is how we secure the borders of our mind.
 
Friend, stay on high alert this week and find the mind fields in your life and expose them. Next, destroy them by "casting down the arguments" and going with God's wisdom and peace. You will have victory and your obedience to God will be fulfilled.
 

For King and Kingdom,
 

Randy Martin
661-326-8304