THE MIND – THE HEART’S DOOR

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life – Proverbs 4:23

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 – 2 Corinthians 10:5

The human heart is precious to God and He wants it to be jealously guarded. Your MIND is the DOORWAY to your HEART. When a dubious thought arises, you always have a choice to either admit or not admit it. You can fling the door open and let in the negative intruder or you can submit to the instruction of scripture: “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” In other words, capture the thought before it captures you. You must not become a captive to thoughts such as the following: thoughts of condemnation and inferiority, pride, and lustful temptations!

You can overcome thoughts of condemnation and INFERIORITY by the revelation of your IDENTITY in Christ. Reject those thoughts that label you as a ‘good-for-nothing’ or ‘life-long Loser’, even if you had witnessed a trail of failures in times past. Rather than let the thought in, take it captive, and present it to the Lord – submit it to His authority. You must admit only the thoughts that the Lord agrees with. It is only as you open the Bible and search the scriptures that you know what Christ agrees or disagrees with. Any thought that doesn’t line up with God's Word doesn’t pass the test and must not gain entrance. For example, Romans 8:1 affirms: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:10 declares: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

On the other hand, you must also be wary of PRIDEFUL thoughts, exaggerated ideas or exalted image of yourself. Submit them likewise to the authority of Christ. Cut such thoughts to size with the Word – the Sword of the Spirit, knowing that “everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord…” and “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Pro.16:5a, 18).

You must recognize LUSTFUL thoughts and temptations afar off and refuse them entry into your heart’s door! Rather than entertaining iniquity and rationalizing sin, bring every temptation under Christ’s authority. God’s Word is emphatic in 1 Corinthians 6:15, 18 – “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid… Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” With the Sword of the Spirit, you can quench the fiery darts of the tempter. Slam and shut the door of your heart against that tempter or temptress! Then, you can march on to your God-ordained Victory and celebrate your Triumph in Christ! Alleluia!!