THE BATTLE FOR YOUR MIND
The gate of the mind is the first gate that needs to be guarded. Our thoughts determine our actions and the enemy often uses negative thoughts to plant seeds of doubt and fear in our minds. Therefore, it is crucial to renew our minds daily through the Word of God and guard against negative thoughts that can hinder our progress. Romans 12:1,2
The battlefield is not a physical location but rather a spiritual one. As it says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
This means that the battles we face are not merely human conflicts but spiritual ones. The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10), and he will use any means necessary to do so.
In order to possess the gates of our minds, hearts, and souls, we must be vigilant and alert to the enemy’s tactics. We must guard our thoughts and emotions and be intentional about filling our minds with the truth of God’s Word. We must also rely on the Holy Spirit, who is our guide and our strength in battle.
1. One of the enemy’s main tactics is deception.
Satan is a master at twisting the truth and making things seem more appealing than they are. He often uses this tactic to lure us away from God’s plan for our lives.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Joshua 9: 7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”
8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.”
And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9 So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt
Read Joshua 9:1-9
Let us Pray.
I cancel every lie I have embraced and every deception Satan has engineered to deceive me into taking the wrong steps or making the wrong decisions.
I tear down every veil the enemy has used to cover my vision so that I do not interpret situations correctly by the power in the name of Jesus.
Let every lying tongue be exposed (lying tongues in my home, numerous relationships, church, and business enterprise.)
Let every person disguised as an angel of light be exposed. Let the power of the Holy Spirit expose every wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Let every dragon masquerading as a lamb be exposed In the name of Jesus, Amen.
2. The enemy also uses division and discord to weaken us.
He knows that when we are divided, we cannot progress. When we are divided, we cannot achieve, so he plants discord.
Matthew 12: 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
When we agree all things are possible
Genesis 11: 6 And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.
Pray
Possess the gates of your mind by taking control of the gates of your relationships.
Take authority over every spirit of discord influencing your relationship health (relationships with family, business partners, peers, workmates, friends, church folk etc.)
Declare that you are not ignorant of the enemy’s tactics to cause discord, call for the revelation of the Lord to know when a relationship is being attacked and to give you the wisdom and tactic to know what to do.
3. A third tactic that the enemy uses is fear.
Satan knows that fear can be a powerful motivator, and he often uses it to keep us from doing what God has called us to do. He may try to convince us that we are not strong enough or will fail if we try to step out in faith. But we know we have nothing to fear because God is always with us. He is omnipresent.
Pray
We counter fear with the Word of God. It is what you know that will make you free.
Possess the gate of your mind as you pray through the following scriptures: (personalize and apply the following scriptures)
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.
I am not in bondage to fear. I have been adopted as a Child of God; nothing shall be impossible to me. (speak to whatever is causing you to doubt your ability or capacity to do)
1 John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
The perfect love of God has cast out every fear, there is no fear in love. I am in the love of the Father, I fear nothing. I can achieve and attain irrespective of any opposition. I refuse to fear. There is no fear in me.
Joshua 1: 9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I am strong and courageous. I am not afraid nor dismayed concerning the steps I am about to embark on (or whatever the situation may be). The Lord, the Omnipotent One, is with me wheresoever I go, Amen.
Philippians 4: 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
Hallelujah, I have strength for all things in Christ, who empowers me. I am ready for anything, equal to anything, through Him who infuses inner strength into me. Christ is my sufficiency. I can do anything that I desire to do in Jesus’ name.
(Further reference read The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer)
The Battle for the Heart
Understanding the Heart’s Role in Spiritual Warfare
The heart is the centre of our being. It is the place where our desires, emotions, and intentions reside. It is also the place where we connect with God.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse highlights the importance of the heart and the need to protect it.
The way to guard our hearts is to fill them with God’s Word.
Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
When we fill our hearts with God’s Word, we are equipping ourselves with the truth and the power to resist the enemy’s lies.
Another way to guard our hearts is to cultivate a relationship with God through constant prayer and worship. Spending time in God’s presence strengthens and refreshes us. In His presence, we are reminded of God’s love for us and his power to overcome any obstacle.
In addition to guarding our hearts, we must also be aware of the enemy’s tactics. The enemy is still seeking whom to devour with his deception, lies and projections of doubt. He also seeks to distract us so that we do not focus on what is important – God’s truth and will for our lives.
Despite the enemy’s tactics, we must remember that the battle is not ours but God’s. Let us trust in His power and His promises. Remember also that we are not alone in this battle. We have the Holy Spirit within us and the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. You are not alone.
1. GIVE ME YOUR HEART
Prov 23:26 My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.
This statement for a born-again Christian might sound lame, after all the premises of our being born-again is based on giving your heart to the Lord. Our hearts determine the course of life we take, the decisions we make and the choices we make. God says “give ME your heart”. If you give God your heart, then you will make decisions in alignment with the will of God. Give God your heart.
Join me as we pray
Think about your heart, think about the things you have hidden in your heart.
Be true to yourself
As you think about these things, just keep repeating, Father, I give You my heart.
Think about the things you have buried in your heart- that quarrel, that anger, that frustration that wants to get the better of you, that situation that has lingered for a long, life just not being the way you thought it would be, that health situation, money, immigration, child, spouse and on and on. Many things tug at our hearts.
That ambition that is eating you up, that desire that has made you unkind to others, that person or persons that hurt you so much there seems to be no space for forgiveness. Whatever the case may be, give your heart to God, if you cry in the process, it is okay, just let it go. Give God Your heart.
Speak to the Father, and say, “Father I give You my heart.”
It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the tactics of the enemy. Therefore, our prayer will now focus on the help of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Holy Spirit helps us to discern between good and evil.
In John 16:13, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
This means that the Holy Spirit will help us to recognize when we are being influenced by something that is not of God. He will give us the wisdom and discernment to know what is right and what is wrong.
Pray
Father, I come before You seeking the guidance and presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. The promise of Jesus in John 16:13 is that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. Today, I surrender my heart and mind to Your Spirit, trusting that He will illuminate my path and reveal Your divine wisdom.
Father, I acknowledge that I am susceptible to the influences of this world, and at times, I may be led astray by things that are not of You. But I believe in Your unfailing love and the power of Your Spirit to grant me discernment. Grant me the grace to recognize when I am being influenced by that which is not aligned with Your will.
Holy Spirit, I invite You to dwell within me, to stir my spirit, and to guide me in every decision and choice I make. Open my eyes to see the truth, even when it is hidden or obscured. Grant me the wisdom to discern what is right and what is wrong according to Your Word.
In moments of confusion and doubt, Holy Spirit, be my compass, pointing me towards the path of righteousness. Strengthen my resolve to walk in obedience and keep me from being swayed by the deceitful schemes of the enemy. Fill me with Your presence so that I may be sensitive to Your promptings and follow Your lead.
Father, I am grateful for Your promise to guide me into all truth through the Holy Spirit. Help me to cultivate a deep relationship with Him, to listen attentively to His voice, and to yield to His gentle nudges. May Your Spirit’s wisdom flow through me, not only for my benefit but also for the edification of my family and those around me.
I commit myself into Your hands, Heavenly Father, and I trust that as I rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I will walk in the light of Your truth. May Your Spirit empower me to discern between right and wrong, to honour You in all I do, and to bring glory to Your name.
In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
2. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to resist the tactics of the enemy
Pray
Heavenly Father, today, I seek the empowerment of Your Spirit to resist the tactics of the enemy and to live a life that is pleasing to You.
Galatians 5:16, Paul tells us to walk in the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. This means that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the power to resist the negative influences of the world. We can say no to temptation and walk in righteousness.
Despite the temptations and negative influences that surround me in this world, I take comfort in knowing that You have equipped me with Your Holy Spirit, who enables me to stand firm and say no to the desires of the flesh. I ask for the strength to resist temptation, to turn away from sinful inclinations, and to walk in righteousness. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your presence and empower me to overcome the tactics of the enemy. Grant me discernment to recognize his deceitful schemes and the wisdom to navigate through the challenges that come my way. Strengthen my resolve to choose righteousness over sin, obedience over rebellion, and love over selfishness.
Father, I surrender my will to Yours, and I trust that through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence, I can resist the enemy’s tactics and walk in the path of righteousness. Grant me the grace to walk closely with Your Spirit, to be sensitive to His leading, and to yield to His promptings.
I thank You, Lord, for the assurance that I am not alone in this battle. With the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, I can overcome the desires of the flesh and live a life that brings honour to Your name.
In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray.
I have many more prayer points :). But we cannot do it all in one sitting. Next week we will tackle the gate of the body.
I pray you have been blessed. It is a good idea to go through the points again and meditate throughout the week.
Thanksgiving and communion
Father, I am grateful. Thank You for the victory over the enemy’s tactics. By Your grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, I have possessed the gates of my mind, overcoming deception, lies, discord, and fear. I thank You for equipping me with discernment and strength to resist the enemy’s schemes.
Thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit in my life, enabling me to discern between good and evil.
Father, I thank You for the power You have given me to resist the enemy’s tactics. I am no longer a slave to fear or temptation, for Your Spirit within me empowers me to say no to sin and to walk in righteousness.
As I conclude this prayer, watch, I surrender anew to Your will. Lord, may my mind be continually renewed, my heart guarded, and my spirit attuned to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. May I be a light in this world, demonstrating Your love and truth to those around me, in Jesus’ name.
I give You all the glory and honour, for it is Your power that enables me to overcome.
Thank You, Father, for the victory we have in Jesus Christ and for the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit.
Remember to break bread – declaring you are possessing the gate of your mind and heart.
