This week’s One Another Challenge is purely selfish on my part and I do so without apology. If you need this reminder and want to take up the challenge as well…I welcome the company. But whether you join me or not, I must face this challenge and conquer the mind gremlins.

Here’s My Challenge: Do Not Help Satan Win the Battle for My Mind!

A long time ago I decided, with Scripture proof text, Satan receives far too much credit in the battle for the human race. The old “Laugh In” line, “The devil made me do it,” became (and still is) the mantra for many people, including born-again disciples of Jesus the Christ. But can the devil really make us do anything?

Eve had a choice. So did Adam. God told Cain, “If you do well,will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7 NASB)

God didn’t tell Cain to blame his parents, his brother, Satan or anyone else. The blame for not doing well rested squarely on Cain’s shoulders. (You can read what God thinks of the blame game in Genesis chapter three.) He also told Cain that sin (Satan) was crouching at the door, but he could master it.

Sin (Satan) does not have to have mastery over me. In fact as a follower of Christ sin can only take place in my life, and Satan can only have influence  if I let him.

Over the past few days I have let the sin/s of false thinking and lie belief take up residence in my mind.

Satan didn’t do that. I did!

Remember, Satan is not omnipresent (can be everywhere at once.) Nor is he omnipowerful (all powerful.) Nor is he omniscient (all knowing.) I’m not saying he isn’t a crafty powerful being. What I am saying is we give him far too much credit for our own filthy dirty rags (Is. 64:6) which allows us to feel less culpable.

If he made me think that thought of jealousy or made my eyes stare at that nude photo or if he forced me to harbor hatred and bitterness then I can’t be all that bad. I mean if Satan made me do it then he’s the one to blame. Right?

Wrong!

I have kept in my mind the lie that God remains angry with me about a sin I committed years and years ago. I have chosen not to believe and not to claim God’s redeeming restoration about this particular sin. I have chosen to mull over this long ago sin again and again. I’ve replayed the episode a million times conveniently leaving out the cleansing forgiveness provided by God’s Son (I John 1:9).

How dare I cheapen Jesus’ shed blood!

I’ve been Satan’s little helper. He hasn’t needed to remind me of this sin. I remind myself. He doesn’t have to keep tossing doubts into my mind or help me misunderstand people’s comments or actions toward me. I’ve got that covered. Just like Eve, I chosen to believe his initial lie, “Has God really said…” and then run with it.

But not this week (and prayerfully, not ever again) will I believe the lie that my sins are too deep or too awful for the blood of Christ to fully and completely forgive and redeem!

This week I will not be Satan’s little helper in the battle for my mind! Instead I choose to fill my mind with God’s Truth and the love of His Son, Jesus. Will you join me in this challenge? Will you stop helping Satan in his battle to weaken your impact for The Kingdom? Fight the good fight with me and together let’s throw the bum out!

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:7-8