How is it so many people come up with images in their minds all day long that are negative? We can see our businesses going bankrupt, our car driving into a ditch, our children marrying the wrong person. Those types of negative imaginations, of course, are the lies of the devil.
We’ve been told repeatedly by many a preacher and/or teacher that the battlefield is in the mind. 2 Corinthians 10: 5 [KJV] ~ 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;…
If we’re not born again, we have nothing of greater strength to combat those images. And most of the world is in exactly that position. Their minds are constantly racing with negative imaginations. There’s no need to turn on a reality TV show or a late night comedy show to prove my point, but if you did you’d hear a steady stream of negativity. Many of those horrid pronouncements would be couched as sarcasm. It’s as if those late night shows are a veritable Coliseum, where those not in favor are ridiculed and torn apart. A while back they tore apart the Duggars…and there was wrong doing there. Then they castigated the Dentist who killed Cecil the lion…also wrong doing.The political season is upon us and during the campaign it’s sure to get ugly. It always does.Talk show hosts, news pundits, and the candidates themselves will ridicule the candidate they oppose, belittle him or her in the most personal manner. I’m not saying there is no need for investigation and thoughtful discourse (emphasis on thoughtful). That is most often not the case. They seek to destroy. Many (especially those who are extreme on either side) delight in exaggeration, lies, and slander. They actually revel i it.
The Bible is clear on this. Proverbs 10:18 [KJV] ~ He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. Christians are told to cast down these devilish imaginations. To take captivity captive. We are to take captive the wicked thoughts that would enslave us. So I went to the Lord because I thought I’m a pretty nice person and I asked him, “Do I really have wicked thoughts?” His answer was YES, any time I insult or slight another, or portray them in a negative light. That after all is what slander means. I don’t mean to do it, but sometimes it just slips out. Yup, that’s a sin. Fortunately, very fallible me gets to humbly and honestly repent, and God’s incredible loving grace wipes my slate clean.
In my detective novel DEADLY DESIGNS, female private eye Veronica “Ronnie” Ingles is beset by negative emotions due to the unfortunate circumstances of her childhood. She’s thrust into a situation where she and Deputy Sheriff, Lieutenant Dawson Hughes, the man she’s falling for, are racing against time to rescue a kidnapped little girl. The plight of this child pulls up nightmares she once had as a child, as well as deeply negative memories. She has been wrestling with God for many years, yet she remains inquisitive as to who He is. She’s on a spiritual journey, though she doesn’t always know it.
Nike N. Chillemi ~ mystery & a merry heart 
Also in Derek Princes book ‘Blessings or Curse You Choose”. He quotes a a passage from Timothy or James where it says just critizing a believer or non-believer it doesn’t matter he calls it evil speaking. So it doesn’t take much! Before you come back at me and say yes but sometimes you have to if they are doing something wrong. I suppose we don’t let our brains go out the window. But it is real food for thought isn’t it. 🙂
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AM, Good comment. Food for thought.
Whatever we do with regard to another believer we are to do in love. Even “straighten them out.” But really only the Holy Spirit can straighten them out. We can only counsel and try to counsel wisely. As a matter of fact, we’re to treat all peple in the love of Christ.
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Perfect timing to remind us all of our imperfections. Thanks Nike.
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And if I run out of today things to beat myself up for, I look back to years ago to keep the beat down going. I rebuke you Satan in the name of Jesus. I am a daughter of the Most High King, holy and precious in His sight!
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Susan, When I do that, and I do that, I try to replace the negative (saatic) tape in my head with Scripture. I’ve found that tape is so ingrained and runs so deep and has been running for so log that at first it’s hard to replace it with Scripture. But the other thing I found out is that it only takes a little Scripture to make the enemy flee. I don’t need a degree in theology to do it. In a pinch, almost any Scripture will do it too, whether it fits what the tape is saying or not. I’ve learned when a Scripture pops into my head to combat the devil, DON’T analyze it. Don’t start yet another negative tape going that says, “You don’t know your Bible. That’s not an appropriate verse to answer this demonic attack.” The last time I had a tape running all I could think of was “know I am God.” That’s it. I rpeated that inside my head about 20 times and the devil did flee.
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