In a previous article in the Catholic Man Channel, We Are All in a Spiritual Battle, the spiritual battles we face every day were discussed, especially those “strongholds in us that set themselves up against the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” The importance of fighting these battles shoulder-to-shoulder with other men was also discussed. In this article, we will discuss the spiritual battle for our minds.
Knowing the Truth: God Is for Us, Satan Is Against Us
In the battle for our minds the clearer we are about the truth of God’s goodness and about Satan’s evil intentions, the more we will be able to resist the distractions that block us from God.
If there were someone in your life who repeatedly helped you, encouraged you, and sought nothing but the best for you, how would you treat that person? You’d want to honor him; you’d want to spend time with him; you’d want to tell other people about him. It would be very hard — if not impossible — to turn you against him because you know deep in your heart that he loves you and has your best interests at heart.
Well, this is how it is with our Heavenly Father. He is on our side. He wants us to know his love, to seek his grace, and to walk in his light. When sin separated us from him, he sent his Son Jesus to rescue us. By his death in our place, Jesus restored our fellowship and communion with our Father. And even now, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit lives in us to encourage us, to guide us, and to help us stay close to the Father.
By contrast, where God is for us, Satan is against us. As the father of lies (John 8:44) and the master of deception (2 Corinthians 11:14), Satan is a thief who steals, kills, and destroys (John 10:10). Just as he did with our first parents, and just as he tried to do with Jesus, he will misrepresent the truth and water down the realities of God. Then, after having done his damage, he will try to weasel out of any blame, urging us instead to accuse God or each other.
How often do people say, “How can God allow so many terrible things to happen, like war, murder, and abject poverty?” But the truth is that God doesn’t cause any of these things. This kind of twisted thinking disregards the fact that we live in a sinful world, that human choice is behind every sin, and that we have a spiritual enemy who wants to destroy our faith.
Never doubt that God is for you. Satan is the enemy. He has no love for us and no concern for our well-being. As Scripture itself states, every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:13-17).
Discerning the Battle for Our Minds: Whose Voice Am I Going to Listen to?
Since God is good, it’s logical to assume that he pours millions of good thoughts into our minds every day — thoughts of love, kindness, goodness, courage, and blessing. Scripture teaches us that we love God because he first loved us; and God confirms this love by all the good that he does for us (1 John 4:19).
On the other hand, the evil one sends us a barrage of negative, derogatory, divisive, and self-centered thoughts every day. We are tempted to become angry, disillusioned, cynical, downtrodden, and resentful. There are even times when we feel as if our minds are held captive by negative thoughts and that the positive ones don’t stand a chance.
Now, if God is all-powerful, and if he is behind the positive thoughts, we might ask why or how the devil can get such an upper hand. The answer lies in the way that the lies of Satan and the cares of this world distract us from God, and move us to take our eyes off Jesus, and cause us to grab a hold of Satan’s lies. Over time, as these distractions appear again and again, they build up strongholds of deception in our minds (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
This is why it’s vital that we learn how to discern the thoughts that come to us in the course of each day. God wants us to “test everything” and keep the good while resisting and rejecting whatever pushes us away from him (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). If we could just learn how to judge our thoughts and discern their influence, we would all be far less distracted and far more focused on Jesus.
God In, Satan Out
In the corporate world, businesses manage inventory according to a principle called FIFO: first in, first out. In the spiritual life, the key principle is GISO: God in, Satan (and all his thoughts) out. Below is a three-step process that can help us put this principle into action:
1. Every morning when you wake up, commit yourself to Jesus and invite him and his positive, loving thoughts into your mind. Confess your faith that every good and perfect gift comes from God and that every negative thought has its roots in the schemes of the devil. Yield yourself to God, and he will fill you with his good and holy intentions.We Can’t Do It Alone2. During the day, whenever you face a situation that calls for a response, or whenever new thoughts come into your mind, ask yourself, “Are these thoughts up-building or are they divisive? Are they leaving me in a positive state of mind or are they filling me with selfishness, anger, or sadness?”
3. As soon as you sense the source of these thoughts, deal with them accordingly. Allow the positive ones to occupy your mind, and take captive the negative ones. That is, rid yourself of the thoughts that drag you down and distract you (2 Corinthians 10:5-6). This is what it means to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable” (Philippians 4:8).
As with every other aspect of Christianity, this process of discernment is possible only with God’s help. We are engaged in a spiritual battle against a fierce and powerful enemy who wants to distract us and destroy our faith. That’s why Paul urges us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power” (Ephesians 6:10).
Even when much of the burden appears to be on your shoulders, know that you are not alone. Every time you seek God, whether at Mass, in prayer, or as you are going about your daily routine, try to stay open to the good and pure thoughts that the Holy Spirit is sending you. Our connection with Jesus is critical, and this is why we need to receive him as often as possible. Jesus gives us life, he renews us, and he empowers us with his grace whenever we seek him.
Conclusion
The evil one desires to cause discord and hostility among men, women, and families by attacking the mind. The “accuser of our brethren” loves to turn brethren themselves into accusers of each other (Revelation 12:10). Whenever we experience negative, accusing thoughts — especially when they’re really strong — we should be alert and take steps to resist them. And it needn’t be anything elaborate. Simply calling on the name of Jesus or blessing ourselves with holy water can silence these voices. Making the sign of the cross or speaking aloud a verse of Scripture may be just as effective. God is so much more powerful than the devil. And, except in rare cases permitted for special reasons by God, Satan will flee whenever we call upon our Heavenly Father!
So let’s take time every day to be with Jesus in prayer, and, throughout the day, let’s try to yield ourselves to God’s goodness and holiness. This is the best way to keep our eyes focused on the Lord. It’s the best way for us to be filled with his love, his blessing, his comfort, and his assurance. It’s the best way to resist Satan’s attempts to deceive us and win the battle for our minds. And, it’s the best way to resist the everyday distractions of life. Our God loves us so much. He wants the best for us. As we let his good thoughts reign in our minds, we will become better at keeping our eyes on him, and we will be more willing to do great things for him.
(This article comes from the May 2005 issue of The Word Among Us magazine. Used with permission. You may e-mail the NFCM at info@nfcmusa.org or visit the NFCM website.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. Why do you think the battlefield for spiritual warfare is our minds?
2. What “weapons” are available to us to fight this battle for our minds?
3. Why do you believe “knowing the truth” of our faith and who we are in Christ, is so important in winning this battle?
4. What is your estimate of the percent of negative (e.g., critical, angry, or accusing) thoughts that come into your mind during the day?
5. What steps can you take to increase your alertness to the sources of these negative thoughts?
6. If you are in a men’s group, implement these steps and share the results at your next men’s group meeting.
