The book of Proverbs is probably my favorite in the OT because of it's variety of practical advise, and because it is so rich with nuggets of wisdom. One of the passages that stands out to me most, and that I often reflect on is in the 23rd chapter and verse 7 where it says that... "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he"..... Interesting that it doesn't say "as he thinks in his mind". Although every thought begins in the mind, it is the thoughts that we allow to sink into our hearts that determine the type of person that we become. The good news is that we get to choose those thoughts. Parents will often tell their children, "you can be anything you set your mind to"! And that is so true, but that isn't just for children. If you don't like where you are in life, change your mind...you will be amazed at what can happen when the right thoughts (infused with the truth of the Word) work their way into your heart! The devil knows this is true and tries to use it against us. That is why God has given us all of the equipment we need to face...
The Battle
There
is a battle raging
A war
for all of time
So
fierce the attack of the enemy
It’s
the battle for the mind
Deception
and delusion
Are
the weapons of his choice
And a
dulling of our hearing
So
that we don’t hear the voice
Of the
One who is Commander
The
Captain of the Host
The
only One who knows what’s best
The
One who loves us most
The
opposition questions
Has
God really said
Or is
that really the interpretation
When
in the Book we’ve read
He
lays the traps to snare us
To
destroy us if he can
And he
makes no real distinction
Whether
woman child or man
But
the thing that still amazes
Is our
foolishness and pride
For we
often go into battle
With
our armour laid aside
And
wonder why we falter
When
temptation comes along
Though
we’ve been given everything we need
To
stand firm resolved and strong
So
take note my friend and understand
This
battle won’t be done
Until
one day we stand in Heaven
And
the final victory is won
Eph. 6:11-17 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Wherefore take unto you
the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Here in these 6 verses the Apostle Paul gives us a way to connect the principle of Proverbs 23:7 to the practical of everyday living. This is an amazing passage to
me, not just because of the truth it conveys, but the fact that we as believers
so often do not take full advantage of it.
Our Captain has provided for us every protection and weapon that we need
to be victorious overcomers in the spiritual warfare that we face every day. Yet, all too often I find myself going into my
day without one or all of these firmly applied.
What about you?
