Battlefield of the Mind
Battlefield of the Mind
Joyce Meyer
A stronghold is an area in which we are held in bondage (in prison) due to a certain way of thinking. (p. 16)
It is actually better to be set at liberty in one area at a time. That way, we appreciate our freedom more; we realize it is truly a gift from God and not something we can make happen in our own strength. (p. 35)
He uses the difficult period of waiting to stretch our faith and to let patience have her perfect work. (James 1: 4 KJV.) God’s timing is perfect. He is never late. (p. 38)
Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. (p. 41)
Even if whatever is taking place in your life at the moment is not so good, expect God to bring good out of it, as He has promised in His Word. (p. 42)
Let’s say you’re planning to go shopping. You get in the car, and it won’t start. Theree are two ways you can look at this situation. You can say, “I knew it! It never fails. Every time I want to do something, it gets all messed up. I figured this shopping trip would end up a flop; my plans always do.” Or you can say, “ Well, I wanted to go shopping, but it looks like I can’t go right now. I’ll go later when the car is fixed. In the meantime, I believe this change in plans is going to work out for my good. There is probably some reason I need to be at home today, so I’m going to enjoy my time there.”
Romans 12:16… The idea is that we must learn to become the kind of person who plans things but who doesn’t fall apart if that plan doesn’t work out. (p.43)
Then I learned that I was not receiving much of what the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal to me simply because my mind was so wild and busy that it was missing the information being offered. (p. 73)
There is a big difference in head knowledge and revelation knowledge. (p. 91)
The proud man worries; the humble man waits. (p. 114)
His peace is a spiritual peace, and His rest is one that operates in the midst of the storm – not in its absence. (p. 116)
A passive person may want to do the right thing, but he never will do so unless he purposely activates his mind and lines it up with God’s Word and will. (p. 143)
I believe pride has something to do with this problem. Some people are so full of themselves that no matter what others do for them, they think they deserve not only that, but more! They seldom express appreciation. (p. 163)
Many Christians have become fearful of the word “meditate” due to the meditation practices of pagan and occult religions. But I urge you to remember that Satan has really never had an original idea. He takes what belongs to the Kingdom of Light and perverts it for the kingdom of darkness. We must be wise enough to realize that if meditation produces power for the cause of good. The principle of meditation comes straight out of the Word of God; let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about it. (p. 165)
It is not suffering that glorifies God, but a godly attitude in suffering that pleases Him and brings glory to Him. (p. 201)
The message is quite plain. The complaining of the Israelites opened a door for the enemy who came in and destroyed them. They should have appreciated God’s goodness – but they didn’t – so they paid the price. (p. 206)
In this contrast, we can see the power of praise and thanksgiving and also the power of complaining. Yes, complaining, grumbling, murmuring and faultfinding have power – but it is negative power. Each time we give our minds and mouths over to any of it, we are giving Satan a power over us that God has not authorized him to have. (p. 207)
I have discovered that patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. (p.208)
Impatience is the fruit of pride. (p. 211)
One of the reasons our problems defeat us is because we think they are bigger than God. (p. 225)
Self-pity is idolatry – turning in on ourselves, concentrating on us and our feelings. (p. 232)
God desires to bless us even more than we desire to be blessed. But He also loves us enough not to bless us beyond our capacity to handle the blessings properly and to continue giving Him glory. (p. 250)