"There is a battle happening in the minds of many of My people! Choose to believe in the truth of My Word, and cast down every argument that is contrary to My Word! For My Word brings life, and My Word brings shalom peace! Set your mind on what My Word says about you, not what man says or what the devil says!"
The enemy the devil has been trying to hijack, oppress, or even torment many of God's people's minds. Therefore, this is a very important time to be on guard and to be vigilant. Choose to set your mind on God's Word, because God's Word is like the sword that slays every word (or thought) that is sent by the power of darkness.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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...'
By the way, the word 'thought' here is 'noema' in Greek, and it also means 'mind'. So, in the context of what we are learning today, the words 'thought' and 'mind' are interchangeably used.
Let's look at The Expanded Bible version for 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. This version puts it this way: 'We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; not of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places [strongholds; fortresses]. We destroy people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] and every proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; high thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ.'
As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, what is one of the most powerful 'weapons' that God has given you? The answer is the Word of God!
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) says, 'This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.'
The word 'meditate' here is 'hagah' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to ponder, to study, to talk, to speak, to utter, to mutter (i.e. speak under your breath)'. As you can see here, this word 'hagah' has a broad meaning. So, in the context of meditating on God's Word here, it isn't just about pondering God's Word, reading God's Word silently, or studying God's Word, but it's more than that. Because the word 'hagah' can also mean 'to speak, to utter, or to mutter'.
There is something powerful about speaking out God's Word for yourself to hear. When you speak out God's Word, you are in effect using your eyes to read, your mouth to speak, and your ears to hear. The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God' (Romans 10:17).
Let me show you how.
For example, Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'.
So, how do you personalize this verse for yourself? You can speak it out to yourself this way:
"God's thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope."
Now, look at this word 'peace' here. It is 'shalom' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'wholeness, wellness, health, wealth, safety, prosperity, favor'. In other words, God sees you whole, well, healthy, wealthy, safe, prospering, favored! When the enemy tries to speak to you otherwise or makes you think otherwise, you can speak Jeremiah 29:11 over yourself again and again: "God's thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace (wholeness, wellness, health, wealth, safety, prosperity, favor) and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope."
John 8:31-32 (ESV) says, 'Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
You see, God's Word doesn't just bring life! God's Word is also truth! And this truth shall set you free! Free from what? Free from whatever lie, deception, oppression, or even torment by the enemy the devil! Now, what does 'abide in My word' mean here? It means to stay in God's Word, to dwell in God's Word, or to keep your mind set on God's Word!
So, go ahead and meditate on God's Word today! What are the Bible verses that God has spoken to you recently? Meditate on those verses! Speak these verses to yourself over and over again! And believe for it! Believing, you shall receive! Never underestimate the power of God's Word!
As a matter of fact, it is much better to meditate on God's Word than to waste your time 'meditating' on all those bad news that you hear in the world at the moment!
