“Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians 10:4-5.

Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Philippians 4:8.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2.

When I was hospitalized recently, written about in a previous article, I encountered dark thoughts of oppression from the enemy.  I lowered my shield of faith and some of the fiery missiles got through (Ephesians 6:16). The antidote was scripture verses given to me by the Holy Spirit which knocked down the strongholds attempted to be erected by the enemy.  Essentially, I failed to take my thoughts captive and gave into the temptation to dwell on the dark thoughts.

We are commanded to change the way we think, not copying the ways of the world, but instead letting God transform us into a new person, changing the way we think.  Note it is letting (yielding, dying to self, etc.) God do it.  It has nothing to do with our changing our thought patterns ourselves.  We have to allow God to demolish any thoughts that set themselves up against God through yielding to Him by faith.  I should have dispelled the dark thoughts in the hospital right at the start and turned immediately to the Word of God, but initially failed to do so.  I temporarily walked by sight and not by faith.

We are also commanded to only think on pure, lovely, praiseworthy things.  We can do so because we are children of the King and we know everything is in his sovereign hands.  Nothing evil can touch us without his will and everything works out for good for a christian (Romans 8:28).  Therefore, all is well for a christian at all times, even in trials, and we can focus on the lovely.

Finally, we are to set our minds on things above.  We are simply passing through earth as sojourners.  The pains and problems of our existence here will pass.  A christian’s destiny is Heaven, a land of true purity and loveliness, where everything is excellent.  There we will spend eternity with Father God in perfect bliss and this is the prize we should set our eyes on.