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VICTORY OVER THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES OF THE MIND

  • Writer: Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
    Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
  • Jan 1, 2023
  • 5 min read

Today’s Reading:

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

“GUARD YOUR steps and focus on what you are doing, as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil;” (v. 1 AMPV)

“GUARD YOUR steps and focus on what you are doing, as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil. [Gen 35:1-4; Ex 3:5). Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore, let your words be few; For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words. When you Take a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him}. Pay what you vow. [Ps 50:14; 66:13, 14; 76:11]. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [Prov. 20:25; Acts 5:4]. Do not allow your speech to cause you to sin, and do not say before the messenger (priest) of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of your voice (words) and destroy the work of your hands? (Mal 2:7]. For in a multitude of dreams and in a flood of words there is worthlessness. Rather fear God [and worship Him with awe-filled respect, knowing who He is].” (Eccl. 5:1-7 AMPV)




In the passage before us today, three issues stand glaringly, and we shall be discussing them serially.

[Serial One]


King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, admonish us to concentrate on what we have come to the church to do, and to guard our steps. This means we are to focus on what we are doing and not let our minds stray. A lot of us, when we go to church, hardly stay on our seats. We are outside or in a corner chatting, gossiping all the way. Many of us will stay on our seats but fiddle with our phones or do other things. By this we lose our footing and end up anxious and worried because we will always be mentally dealing with our yesterday or tomorrow, instead of living in today (v. 1). Though the house of God provides opportunity for reverent words and measured promises, it should primarily be a place of listening when we come for fellowship.


To wander is to allow our thoughts to move about aimlessly, to roam or amble without caution. It means that we are taking irregular course of action at no particular pace and in no particular direction. This happens briefly, even in the church at a moment we are enjoying or benefitting from the preaching. And we realised we have not gained anything from what is being talked about. At one time or the other, it is possible to have our minds wander away with the issue at hand. This can also happen when praying, we just realise we have strayed off the matter we are praying about. This is why at times; it is good to talk out when praying. We need to train our minds through discipline. This is not easy, but with time our minds will get trained. It is good to be aware that it is not good to allow our mind to stray wherever it will, and at any time it wishes.


We should remember that our mind is the battle field for spiritual warfare. That is where the enemy fires its wiles. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood ……” (Eph. 6: 10-18). The enemy knows that if we cannot keep our mind on what is being taught in the church, we will not benefit from the teaching. If our mind is not disciplined, the enemy knows that we cannot complete whatever we are thinking about at that moment, because the thought is coming at a wrong time. The wandering of the mind can also occur during our normal discussions. Even in discussions between spouses, we notice that in a moment our mind wanders from our discussions. That moment we do not hear and have missed what is being said because the mind for a moment wandered away.


This is a problem many of us do not realise, we should deal with. In order to overcome the problem, we need to confront the challenge. Staying focused is not only needed in the church, but also in our daily activities. It is also very important in our professional lives, our social lives, and in our relationships, even in our spiritual lives, for us to overcome the wiles of the enemy. I admonish us in our determination to walk with God this year and overcome, we should pay attention to our thoughts and not let it wander carelessly anyhow. One of the ways to have victory in our spiritual battle field is to stay focused.


How do we remain focused:

  • Be a friend of Jesus and surrender your life to His lordship. He will in turn give you the Holy Spirit who will stay with you to the end, guard and teach you in all things, and transform your life to conform to the plan of God for your life.

  • Cultivate the attitude of being open and ready to listen to God, not to dictate to Him what we think should be or should not be.

  • Always meditate on the word of God to know what is there and to be able to do what it says. (Jos 1:8-9)

  • Be a prayer addict – take all things to God in prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. And believe that whatever you ask Him according to his will, you will receive it.

  • Be conscious about the thoughts that flows in your mind (Phil. 4:8; 2Corin. 10:5). Quickly pull down the stronghold of thoughts that will not glorify God, smash it against the rock of our salvation. When you are not focused always bring back your mind. This is a repeated exercise that you must learn to do.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE



Prayer:

  1. Father, thank You for the light of Your word that is always correcting us and showing us the way, in Jesus name.

  2. In Your mercy, forgive sins that are hindering, blocking and obstructing the move of your power in our lives, in Jesus name.

  3. Help me to identify and deal with any weakness in me that can hinder my walk with you this year, 2023, in Jesus name.

  4. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, empower, help, and train us to discipline our thought to the obedience of your word, in Jesus name.

  5. Every covenant between the souls of Your people and Satan, be dashed to irreparable pieces, in Jesus name.

  6. By the power in the blood of Jesus, we challenge and pull down the forces of disobedience in the lives of the saints, in Jesus name.

  7. O Lord, give our leaders the wisdom and knowledge to follow your counsel, and direction, in Jesus name.

 
 
 

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