I got into the fight again yesterday! I saw it coming and using the same old method, I was knocked down again! I was beaten again and felt hopeless and helpless! I wanted to scream but then I realised that won’t cut it. I didn’t know what came over me again – I said it was over; I thought I had changed for better, and that these ridiculous behaviours were over but here I was, back to square one – the same cycle repeating itself.
I got a new coach today and while I went hoping to see a new kit, hear about which enemies I should choose and what not, my new coach stunned me by saying the new training regime will now focus on MY MIND! Really? My mind? I have sound mind, or so I thought! Why my mind? And then He goes, ‘’because winning or losing each and every of life’s battles start from there.
“What do you think of? What occupies your mind day and night? If I were to project your mind on a large 3D screen for an audience to watch, what would they see? A winning or losing outlook? You want to win the physical fight with the enemy when you have not won the battle of your mind?” he said. This was a “selah” moment for me as I sat on the courtyard and it seemed as though a light so surreal opened my eyes to see! He proceeded to give me some ‘mind supplements’, which helped me meditate and visualise properly. That was the beginning of many victories in life!
This is true of our lives as Christians; our journey in this world isn’t going to be all smooth and rosy. There will be battles to fight and wars to win. Jesus is our new coach and His word is the supplement we need to ingest on a daily basis in order to triumph over the many problems and temptations that often characterize our transit through life in this phase of eternity. We go into the boxing ring everyday – but often unprepared and already defeated mentally because we do not take care of our minds. Thinking about the temptation of Jesus, I personally believe that that story didn’t happen physically but was more of an exchange in the thought realm of Jesus, i.e. Satan bringing all those thoughts to Jesus and Jesus resisting with the words, “…it is written…”
The need to meditate on the word of God and to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit cannot be overemphasised, as the word and the leading of the Holy Spirit are what we need to overcome the battlefield of the mind. Every day, we are making decisions and choices – from the moment of our waking up to the moment we sleep – some conscious, other unconscious, and some short term, while others long term. These decisions can be made out of fear, hearsay, bandwagon effect, human calculations, etc., or clearly from a sound mind of God’s word and backing. Some of us need to change our coach, that is, the wrong feelings/emotions guiding our decisions. We need a change from anger, worry, depression, jealousy, envy, hatred, unforgiveness, negativity, etc., to absolute reliance and trust in the word of God. These emotions will always make us lose. Yes people in the world can choose such a coach, but for us as Christians, we need to do better and be better by using the word of God as our standard.
In our world today, there are a thousand and one things fighting for our attention and ultimately, our mind: from the news channels, social media, our phones, happenings around and so on, all vying for our attention. However, it is our duty as Christians to choose carefully – and wisely – what to focus on. No wonder Paul the Apostle wrote to the believers in Philippians 4 vs. 6-8 saying, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. FINALLY – whatever things are true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.”
A healthy mind is a wealthy soul and a productive life. Remember, “You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” – Joyce Meyer
Written by Ijeoma Ubabukoh
such an interesting easy read…