We Do Not War After the Flesh

There are times that I have noticed that my mind begins to go in this downward spiral of negative thoughts and self-doubt. Usually, it begins with a situation that I am unsure about. Whether it be, insecurity, doubt - just not confident in me or God that is within me. My mind goes to an auto-pilot state and the negative thoughts begin to play. “That was terrible. You sounded horrible and stupid. Why did you do that? You gotta do better. They are probably going to think you….(something negative).” Then I try to talk myself up and speak against it with positive self-talk but that cycle has been a bit redundant because it hasn’t helped. Instead, I’ve learned that if I hold onto the Word of God and recite that back to myself before I go through the spiral of negative thoughts, it begins to remove the whole cycle I tried before.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We don’t war in the flesh (i.e positive self-talk). Every negative thing that tries to come up in our minds, we have two choices: (1) to either allow it to flow through the mind and let it take precedence or (2) cast it down immediately with the word of God! If it does not align with the word of God, then it must be destroyed. Negative thoughts will come, but what will you do with them? What will you choose to focus your attention on?

In Matthew 4, the devil came and tried to tempt Jesus. This was right after Jesus was baptized by the John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into a wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days, so he was hungry. When the devil came, he said to him “IF thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Now before I deal with what Jesus responded with, I want to look at what the devil said. He said, “if thou be…” Jesus knows who and whose He is. Not only that but in the very last verse of chapter 3 (verse 17), it states that God said (“a voice from heaven”) said, “This is my beloved Son, who I am well pleased.” So there was no doubt that the devil didn’t know He was the Son of God. The devil knew that but he wanted to test Jesus anyway. But he stood no chance against Jesus because in Matthew 4:4 Jesus hit him with, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

And so that’s what we have to do with our thoughts. Our negative thoughts are just Satan trying to get us to believe something other than what God has said about us. If we begin to believe what the flesh or the devil says about us, then we’ll always be stuck in time. We won’t progress to the promises of God. When the devil tries to seep in with doubt, refer back in your scripture rolladex and repeat what the Lord has already said about you!

Below I have listed some affirmations from the Bible that I like to use for myself. Stick them on your wall, in your bathroom, on your mirror, by your desk, in your kitchen! Anywhere you will see them and be able to recite them back to yourself. Repeat these until you begin to believe them about yourself!

• I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath! (Deut 28:13)

• I have the mind of Christ! (Phil 2:5)

• I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

• I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom. (Col 1:13)

• I am set free! (John 8:31-33)

• I am complete in Him. (Col 2:10)

• I am free from condemnation. ( John 5:24)

• I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith, and overflowing with thanksgiving. (Col 2:7)

• I am a Son of God! (Rom 8:14-15, Gal 3:26, 4:6)

Comment below any scriptures you speak over your life. How do you feel after you've spoken the living word over yourself? If you don't have this tool part of your routine already, how can you begin to add it to your daily routines?

If you're just starting this, it may take some time to notice a change. However, be consistent with it. Give it at least 3 weeks.

Remember: Be aware of when you are feeling down and go over the thoughts you've had. Once you notice the negative self-talk cycle, take captive of it and begin to attack those thoughts with the living Word!