2 Corithians 10: ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, ⁴ for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 

We've looked  a bit at some of the elements of spiritual warfare. We've seen some of the promises and truth from the word of God about the power of prayer and the protection and provision that we have in God's presence. It is important that each one of us realize that we are engaged in a battle every day of our lives, to know that our adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion. As important as it is for us to know who our enemy is, the devil, and who it isn't, people, we battle not with flesh and blood, it is equally important that we understand the nature of the battle we face.

Remember the armour of God as we dress for success, Ephesians 6: ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

While there are times we engage these formidable spiritual evils, much of the real battle we face is in our own minds. The strongholds and fortresses of the enemy are improper thought patterns that we have come to accept. Our minds are the primary battleground that Paul is referring to in the 2 Corinthians text above, and it is the first place we need to secure in order to win. Paul tells us that the key to winning in the battleground of our mind is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That is certainly no simple task but it is something that God empowers us to do.

So how do we begin? First we acknowledge our need to do this and we acknowledge that we are not able in our flesh. It is a work of the spirit. Once we have determined to yield to the spirit we can begin to see things according to the spirit. We know that the devil is real and that he is our enemy and we don't need to look far around us to see the evil and darkness that exists and is growing in this world in which we live. So we have a choice to make. We can either focus on the devil and the darkness or we can focus on God. No matter how long we look at it darkness will not change it will remain dark. The longer we remain in that darkness the darker we ourselves may become. The key to overcoming darkness has not changed since the beginning. Look at  Genesis 1:

 ² The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good;   

The Spirit of God was there when God first spoke to the darkness. That same Spirit that now lives in us, that same Spirit that we are yielding to in this battle for our minds. If we speak and say let there be light the Spirit will bring forth light. So we can look around at the darkness that surrounds us and we can say it's really getting dark or we can turn on a light. Light dispells and overcomes darkness just as Jesus said He has overcome the world.

In the battle for our mind Isaiah 26:3 holds an important promise; You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You 

Every vessel or container has a capacity a limit to what it can hold. If you want to get a contaminated liquid out of a jar you can empty it and try to thouroghly clean it, or you can sit it under a source of clean pure water and allow it to be cleansed by the contunual fresh flow. We can try to identify and remove every dark and evil thought in our mind but even as we identify the darkness we give it power. Rather we should displace the darkness with light. We should look to, look at and focus on God, As we draw near to Him, as we fill ourselves with Him, there will be no place for darkness in us. John 7:37-38 says

Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.³⁸ He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 1 John 1 says:

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— ² and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

God Is Light

⁵ This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit. There is darkness all around me and even in me. Today I choose to turn on the light. I desire to see and fellowship with You that I might be filled with your light. I want to be so filled with the light of your presence that there is no room for any dark or evil in me. Help me to keep my mind stayed on You. Let there be light!