Win The War

Earlier this year I bought the book Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel (on Audible so I can listen to it while driving) and last month in our Liverpool services, it was our sermon series.  If you haven’t read it, give it a try!  He’s very open and honest about some of the struggles he’s had and still has with thoughts and ways of thinking, I like that kind of honesty as those are the kind of struggles I have myself.  The more I’ve heard this message, the more it’s helped me. He discusses practical ways to overcome them too, but more on that later.

For me, Paul is a prime example of how to “win the war in your mind”.  If anyone had the right to worry about his situation, cry “Why me?” and doubt God, Paul did!  In this weeks’ bible readings, he describes some of the trials and torments he’s gone through:

'Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers… from bandits… from my fellow Jews… from Gentiles… in the city… in the country… at sea…and …from false believers. '

2 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NIVUK)

Not to mention the thorn in his side, being arrested and escaping in a basket from a window!!

I doubt many of us have suffered even half of what he suffered, but in his writing, he’s not complaining or worried or feeling sorry for himself.

How?!! Why?!!

'So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]. '

2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP)

He depended on God – of course!  What’s important to remember though is that he didn’t just say “O God, help me!” whenever he was in need.  He was able to draw on God’s strength because he consistently, continually and persistently renewed his mind.  Obviously he didn’t have the bible as we know it to turn to, but he knew the scriptures – he would have known Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” or Isaiah 40:31 “..those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary…”

This is one of the practical ways we can “win the war” and as I mentioned earlier, Craig Groeschel gives us some examples of what we can do, you may do them already so let this reminder encourage you

• Daily confessions – find scriptures that are relevant to your situation and personalise them, for example if you worry – 1 Peter 5:7 – “I give all my worries and cares to God because I know He cares for me” etc, and write them down
• Pray – this seems obvious, but for many people praying is the last resort not the first. It’s also backed up by science – research has shown that 12 minutes of focused prayer daily for 8 weeks changes the brain so much that it can be measured on a brain scan! (Switch on Your Brain, Dr Caroline Leaf)
• Be consistent – your thought patterns, worries and habits took years to build so they won’t necessarily change overnight.Yes God can work immediately, and miracles are instant, but continue to pray, confess, stand in faith if they don’t – sometimes even when they do, we all know the devil likes to try to steal our joy and peace.

To quote Craig Groeschel  “Write it, think it, confess it, until you believe it”