Destroying Your Enemies!

Psalm 13:2  "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?"  Who is your biggest enemy?  Is it that person at work?  Is it someone who did you wrong?  Is it someone who is a threat to you?  I say it is none of these.  Our biggest enemy is that horrible person who lives within us - his name is "Thoughts".  When I start to walk down the trail of disaster - the trail where I allow my mind to think of everything that is negative, hurtful and unhealthy - I take a walk with the enemy.  Satan knows our thoughts and our weaknesses better than we do.  He knows exactly where to attack us.  It is then he invites his friend, Thoughts and together the two of them begin to wreak havoc on our lives. 

Our first evidence of this is seen in the life cycle of sin referenced in the book of James.  James 1:15  "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  The desire James is referencing is none other than "Thoughts" in disguise.  Our thoughts are what make us sin.  We must be vigilant and guard our minds and hearts.  I want us to recognize how our thoughts are our enemies.  What thoughts are your enemy?  If you have thoughts of fear, anxiety, jealousy, guilt, insecurity, lust, greed, hate, hurt, etc - then let me introduce you to your enemy.  These things can create greater trauma for your life.  (The definition of trauma:  an injury to a living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent or a disordered psychological behavioral state resulting from emotional stress.) We must rid ourselves of all these destroyers.  They don't have to have power over you.  God is waiting to rescue you from them.  Psalm 18:17  " He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes (recognize thoughts as foes), who were too strong for me."  I know sometimes our minds can take control over our lives.  Our minds are powerful and can cause us to doubt and as a result our actions and words create more heartaches.   What thoughts do you need to take hold of and hand over to God?  Unfortunately, we all have them.  God wants to diminish them for you and place you in a mindset of peace.  Psalm 31:8  "You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place."  Psalm 106:10  " He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them."  I know my greatest enemy in this life is my own thoughts. 

If you too struggle with unhealthy thoughts, thoughts Satan would like to use to destroy your joy, contentment, obedience, and happiness, turn to the Savior.  He wants to renew your mind.  Philippians 4:8  "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."  He wants to destroy your enemy for you.  In His mighty power, He can rid you of the thoughts that Satan uses to harm you.  You must fix your eyes on Jesus and seek Him for deliverance from them.  Hebrews 3:1  "Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus."  Begin today and read a chapter in the book of Psalm every day.  It is there I identified my greatest enemy - Thoughts - and God gave me the wisdom to acknowledge my attacker and the strength to fight him.