Your mind: the Devil's playground?

Concealed, hidden, unknown. The secret world of our minds are so often draped with a cloud of eerie darkness - scurrying with much activity. In the mind anything goes. We can indulge in any pleasure desired by our craving hearts, pushing the boarders of what is physically possible, without anyone knowing, without any consequences. Or are there?

To believe that thoughts do not affect what we do and the way we act is wishful thinking. The mind is the womb of action. People around you might not know what you are thinking and fantasizing, but that does not mean what you are thinking isn’t affecting your attitude towards them.
Take a look at Romans 1:28, 29. Paul says “Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.” Allowing your mind to run loose fills you will all kind of wickedness and depravity. The mind becomes utterly dark.
In Matthew 5:28 Jesus shows us how strict He is with thoughts and fantasy. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” It God’s eyes, what you have thought about you have done!

David cries out to God “Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Ps 26:2). We too should cry out to God, asking Him to examine and test our thoughts by His standard. Maybe you have never had any sexual relations with anyone, but by God’s standard you have - you have let your thoughts run loose.

Is there hope? Will there ever be total victory over thoughts? Over thoughts, there seems to be no victory, no power to overcome. It sure seemed that way to me.

No! Through Christ’s death on the cross, He has given us the power of victory - even over our thoughts. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). How?

“Put away the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 14:9). John says we should “walk in the light, as He is in the light...and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Allow the light of Christ to shine in the darkness of your mind. Bring the deeds of darkness to His light and salvation. How?

James says in chapter 5 verse 16 of his letter “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Come to a close friend and man of God you can trust. Share your heart with them. “Confess your sins”, share with them how you have allowed the devil to use you as his playground. Ask them to pray that God’s light would shine in your mind and that Jesus’ blood would cleanse your from all sin.

Revealing your thought feels like you are tearing and hurting your very self - revealing your most intimate secrets. Trust me, it works, no matter how painful an experience it is! Do not try in your own strength. You need someone to help you be accountable. You can cry all you like without bringing your sin to the light - you will get no victory.

Finally, are your troubled by the dreaded ‘M’ word? Are you addicted to solo-sex? By masturbating you are inviting fantasies - don’t expect to have victory in your mind. First ask God to bring your sexual drive under His control.

There is victory - in Christ!! “But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Cor 1:57.