Perfect Protection for Our Mind | September 26th, 2021

Happy Fall! It’s that time of year again when oak trees begin steadily dropping their acorns. A typical, healthy oak will produce acorns at around the 20-year mark, but peak acorn production occurs when the tree is between 50 and 80 years old. One of the streets in my neighborhood is lined with beautiful, old oak trees that have created the perfect feeding spot for many hungry squirrels.

If you view the top of an acorn, it looks as if it is dressed in a little hat which is called a cupule. The outside is quite rough and scaly. Its purpose is to provide an extra layer of protection for the delicate embryo inside which is enclosed by the kernel. I like to think of it as a miniature helmet.

The Helmet of Salvation

As followers of Christ, we also need a helmet for protection around our delicate mind which should never be left exposed to the enemy who ‘prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). We are constantly fighting on a spiritual battlefield that requires us to put on the armor of God if we are to be victorious. The devil would love to see us unable to recover from the barrage of arrows of lies and doubts he shoots at our mind on a daily basis.  

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

One of the most protective pieces of armor we can put on to guard our mind is the helmet of salvation. It will remain strapped on tight if we keep our sword close to us, feeding our mind with the Word of God.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

Some of the best battlefield-fighting tactics for our mind include these three: resist, replace, and retain. God’s Word tells us exactly how to use them…

Resist 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

It would bring the enemy great delight to see us give in to his alluring temptations, shaming accusations, and destructive thoughts to keep our mind distracted from doing all that God created us to be for His glory and our eternal purpose. When we fill our mind with God’s Word, it is much easier to stay focused on the course ahead. We learn that God loves us fiercely, is on our side, and will help us resist the devil so that he will flee. We also have the power of prayer working for us and can ask God for His help anytime, day or night. He will never abandon us!

Replace 

A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. Proverbs 15:14

The warped ideas and views of this world bring so much chaos and confusion to our mind because they are not centered on God’s Word. It is much easier to discern truth from lies when you are gleaning knowledge and wisdom from His Word rather than from what you hear in the media, on television, or in movies directed by the devil himself. 

It is nearly impossible to find a secular television show or movie today that does not have a narrative suiting the enemy’s evil agenda to get you to believe his lies about the many ways to God other than through Jesus Christ, the “fun” you can have living an immoral lifestyle of sin, or how easy it is to embrace profanity and the irreverent use of God’s holy name as no big deal. Replace the trash the world offers by spending time feeding on the valuable truths from God’s Word, providing peace and clarity for your mind. 

Philippians 4:8 is a great measuring stick for honoring God when choosing what we are going to put into our mind…

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.

Retain

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28

God does not force anyone to follow the principles and commands He outlines for our good in His Word. However, if we decide to live by our self-serving rules and be our own god, there are consequences to pay…one of them being that we will be given over to a depraved, corrupt mind. 

Over time, it will be impossible for us to believe the truth because our conscience will be seared, mind desensitized, and heart hardened. Before we get to that point, we must surrender to God by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior.

Retain the knowledge provided in His Word by taking time to study and meditate on it each day, strengthening your mind in godliness while perfectly protected by the helmet of salvation. When we fight the battle for our mind with our mighty God by our side, we are more than conquerors. He has already won! We are victorious, secure in our salvation for all eternity. 

Kimberly Moore is a blogger, speaker, and author of Beauty in a Life Repurposed and Kingdom Sparkle. To learn more, visit her website at kingdomsparkle.com.

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