“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.“—2 Corinthians 10: 3-5
Our minds are battlegrounds. Many of our thoughts and subsequent decisions will profoundly impact our lives and the lives of those we love.
We are urged to submit our thoughts to the Lordship of God because thoughts precede action. Did Satan wrestle Eve to the ground and force her to eat the forbidden fruit? No. He enticed her into challenging the Word of God. He played with her mind and dangled temptation in front of her. Because Satan had captured her thoughts, she succumbed to temptation.
Six Greek words are translated into “thoughts” throughout the New Testament, but only one, noema, is translated into both thought and mind in two passages: today’s Scripture above and Philippians 4:7 (“the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds”).
Noema means “a purpose or device of the mind.”
As we submit our thoughts to the Lord, He blesses us with peace, love, joy, and the fruits of the Spirit. When we allow the enemy to use this tool, this device of our minds, he gains the deadliest foothold of all into our lives: fear, anxiety, confusion, and unbelief.
Half the battle is knowing your enemy. Now you know. Your enemy is not flesh and blood, not the things of this world, but every thought, imagination, every “high thing” that wants to loom higher, loftier, and greater than the knowledge of God in your life.
“My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts,” says the Lord (Isaiah 55:9). When we give our thoughts to the Lord and trust in His thoughts toward us, we win the battle for our minds.
