One of the biggest reasons that Christians fall from grace is that they forget they are in a spiritual battle. Paul exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), but everyone knows that the only time to put on armor is during a battle. If we do not remember that we are involved in spiritual warfare, we will fail to put on the armor of God that protects us against the fiery darts of the devil.
The first thing we must prepare for battle is our minds. Paul said that we must put on the “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). There are many ways that we can properly prepare our minds for battle, beginning with filling them with the Word of God.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Merely hearing the Word of God is not enough; we must allow it to abide in our hearts. Only then will it influence our lives. David experienced the power of God’s Word once he allowed it to dwell in him.
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
There is no greater way to prepare your mind for battle than to fill it with the Word of God. If the Word is in you, you will not make a habit of sinning.
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Another important way to prepare our minds for battle is to set them on heavenly things.
Colossians 3:1–2 (ESV)
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
What we think about is critical to our spiritual well-being (Philippians 4:8). To overcome Satan and sin, we must determine to be spiritually minded.
Romans 8:5–6 (ESV)
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Our mindset determines how we live our lives. This is why it is an important part of battle preparation, and it is personal decision we all have to make. You, and no one else, determines whether you are spiritually minded or carnally minded. No one ever spoke of this more clearly than Peter. Hear what he said about having the proper mindset.
1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV)
13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
To gird up the loins of your mind is to gather your thoughts and focus them on spiritual things. To do that is to prepare your mind for battle, and the best way to be ready for the second coming of our Lord.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.