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The Book of Job is a story that details the life of a prosperous farmer living in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. He had a large family; a wife, seven sons, and three daughters. He had thousands of sheep, camels, and other livestock (Job 1:2-3). Of all that he owned; his greatest asset was his faith. Job’s ability to believe was so remarkable that he garnered the attention of God and satan (Job 1:1).
He was an everyday man that had deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his children. He was fearful that they may have sinned, unknowingly, so, every morning he offered, burnt offerings for each of them (Job 1:5). His actions began to take on the nature of his thought life.
His thoughts became his imagination, his imagination became his stronghold which birthed his fear.
The very thing Job feared came true. (Job 3:25). Job practically spoke his suffering into existence (Job 1:5). He found himself losing all that he owned and his children. So as a man thinketh so he is. Proverbs 23:7
What are you telling yourself repeatedly? I am a loser? I am not enough? Nobody’s like me.
The devil wants to fill your mind with things contrary to God’s Word. This is spiritual warfare. A stronghold of the mind is a lie that the devil has established in your thinking that we count as true but is a false belief. He is the father of lies (John 8:44). He was a liar from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. When we embrace these lies, they affect our attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. The enemy knows if he can get in your thoughts, he can affect your actions. He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy your life. The devil doesn’t have any power over you. The devil weaves his thoughts in your mind to manipulate you to get you to give up and quit.
The devil actively looks for people to attack with temptation (1 Peter 5:8, 9). Thanks He does this through his lies and deception (Genesis 3:1-6) The weapons you fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. You will live by the sword (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Three aspects of bringing every thought into captivity:
- Identify your stronghold. Your stronghold is what births fear. It might be retaliation, depression, bitterness, bad temper, trauma, abuse in your past. Take every thought captive with the sword (Ephesians 6:19) and conquer.
- Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Throw his yoke from off your neck. (Genesis 27:40) Stand your ground. Put on God’s armor (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit) (Ephesian 6:10-19). Bind the strong man
- Take authority. You don’t have to defeat the devil. Jesus did that thousands of years ago (I John 3:8). You overcome the lies of the devil with the authority of God’s Word. He tries to hinder God’s work in people, but he is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is permitted (Luke 22:31, 32; 1 Timothy 1:19, 20; 2 Timothy 2:23-26) Stand firm for the truth, even when clever attacks come (Mark 3:27). Speak the Word. There is power in the tongue. The enemy will keep coming back, until he sees that you are not going to give up, like Jesus. He must pay back everything he stole seven-fold (Proverbs 6:31).
Job’s faith was unwavering, regardless of the situation. Job did not curse God, like his wife in the second chapter. He maintained communication. Whether you are spiritually, emotionally, or physically stricken, you can trust God.
By Rachelle Law
Founder, How Come, How Long (HCHL)
Writer, Author, Blogger
