During the past few months, we have probably faced trials and difficulties in areas of our lives that we may not have faced before.  The lockdown itself has meant that we have all had to adapt to a new ‘normal’.

Dave and I have enjoyed being able to spend more time together because of earlier restrictions, but we have also experienced many situations and circumstances that have brought about new challenges.  I myself have had a real battle with my thought life in recent weeks as the enemy has tried constantly undermine me, intimidate me and steal my peace.

I listened to a sermon recently with the scripture that we have all heard many times and are all very familiar with.  ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’.  We need to renew our minds and come into alignment with the word of God.  Take every thought captive and bring it under the obedience of Christ.  Well, how do we do that in reality?

The sermon I listened to likened our minds to a garden.  Your mind is your garden and you are the gardener, just like in a physical garden where you remove the plants and or weeds that you don’t want, you need not host the thoughts that want to plant themselves in your spiritual garden.  Take authority and speak out loud that you bind it and send it back to the pit it came from in Jesus name.  Satan is the author of lies and very good at it he has had a lifetime of practice.  He is no different now than when he was in the garden of Eden and said, ‘did God really say that’?

To take control of my thoughts, I wrote a list of the promises of our great God.  I spoke them out a loud over and over throughout the day, sometimes the same promise 50 times or more.  I declared them over myself and told the enemy he has no power over me because I am more than a conqueror.  Rebuke the devil and he will flee from you.  I want to encourage you to take control of your garden (your thought life) and as soon as something tries to plant itself in your garden, make sure it aligns with the word of God, otherwise get rid of it.  Are there things in your garden that have taken root months or even years ago that don’t belong there?  Dig them up and throw them out!

Remember what an awesome God we serve: –

Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

My God knows my name, My God goes before me,

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,

No weapon formed against me will prosper.

I am a child of God; I have the same power that raised Christ from the grave.

As God was with Moses so he is with me.

I am seated in heavenly places, I have been adopted into Gods family, I have been bought at a price, I was chosen before the foundation of the world.  My God knows the number of hairs on my head, he knit me together in my mothers’ womb and brought me forth on the day that I was born.

I am the head and not the tail, I am above and not below, I have a Godly inheritance.  My God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  My God is Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, the perfect Father.  My God loves me with an everlasting love.  My name is written on the palm of his hands, My God is the light of the world.  He is creator, defender, deliverer, Emanuel God with me, Healer, Restorer, Star Breather, Builder, Provider, Protector.

I am the apple of God’s eye, He is my refuge and my strength, my shelter and my fortress, he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  My God has a plan for my life.  My God is promise keeper, way maker, good shepherd, coming King and Savoir of the world.  No one can pluck me from his hand.  If God is for me who can be against me?  My Gods nailed pierced hands tell me how much he loves me.

Elaine Brannon