Joyce Meyer - Battlefield Of The Mind (08/17/2019)
Joyce Meyer kicks off by saying the mind is basically the main battlefield in life – whatever you think about a ton ends up shaping pretty much everything else. She’s been teaching this forever and isn’t stopping anytime soon. Negative thoughts (“stinking thinking” as she calls it) usually start with the devil planting lies, building strongholds in your head, though after a while we get so used to them we keep the party going ourselves. She had her own messed-up thinking from childhood abuse, figuring she’d never get the good stuff in life, so she literally planned for second best until she started replacing those lies with Bible truth.
She answers real questions people sent in. One from South Africa asks where bad thoughts come from – Satan, our habits, sometimes even well-meaning people – bottom line, whoever’s plan you agree with is the one you live out. Know the Word so you can spot the lies.
Another person’s obsessed with what everyone thinks of them. Joyce says that’s classic insecurity; you’ve gotta get secure in being righteous in Christ instead of chasing approval. Quote scriptures out loud like “I am the righteousness of God in Christ” till it sinks in.
Someone dealing with a super negative person daily wants to know how not to let it ruin their mood. Joyce is straight: if you can choose better company, do it. If you can’t (job, family, whatever), balance it with positive people, realize the negative person is hurting too, forgive like Jesus did, and – most important – spend real time with God every day so He can be your strength and give you “shock absorbers” for the bumps.
On addiction, she’s encouraging: stop telling yourself “I can’t handle this” or “it’s too hard.” Say the opposite – “I can do whatever I need to do through Christ.” Take it one minute, one hour at a time. She even shares quitting smoking wasn’t easy but got easier every day she made it. Believe you’re already free because Jesus set you free.
Fear gets its own section – God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but power, love, and a sound mind. You’ll feel fear sometimes; the key is don’t run from it or give in. Speak the Word quick when it hits. Also practical stuff: don’t fight these battles when you’re exhausted or your life’s out of whack – rest, balance, say no sometimes. The devil loves unbalanced, worn-out people.
Last one’s heavy – lady’s husband died, then she found out he cheated. Forgiven him but the thoughts won’t stop. Joyce says don’t let it wreck the rest of your life. Get new routines, new friends, help other hurting people, trust God to heal the wound little by little with promises like double blessing for your trouble.
All the way through she hammers home: study scriptures about the mind, speak truth on purpose, fight back with the Word the second a bad thought shows up, don’t wait.