MIND WARS: ARGUMENTS & REASONINGS

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God… II Corinthians 10:4-5 (AMPC)

REFERENCE
II Corinthians 10:3-5 (AMPC)

It is said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.” That is, you are largely responsible for your actions and attitudes. Let me take it a step further; ‘Life is 10% what happens to you, 80% how you analyze, reason or interpret it, and 10% how you respond.’ Two people can see the same thing, hear the same news, and pass through the same experiences; yet, draw different conclusions and respond differently. It is all in their reasoning.

In addition to destroying negative strongholds, to win the mind war, you must watch the way you reason about issues and the arguments that rise up in your mind – both contending with God’s truth in your life. An argument is an exchange of diverging or opposite views while reasoning is rationalization or justification for an action or event. Strongholds, arguments, reasonings, and imaginations all operate in the mind, though similar, Apostle Paul in our text drew a fine line between them; it is good to draw the same fine line in this series.

Behind every wrong action, is a faulty reasoning and the justifying of that particular action – a public servant who steals from public coffers justifies his action with a reason that his monthly ‘take home’ cannot take him home. A spouse who cheats justifies his/her action with a reason of being neglected by their spouse. Before we go down these roads, an argument ensues between us and our conscience; we hear, ‘Don’t!’ but we come up with persuasive opposing views that justify our position. Such arguments go on before someone commits suicide. He hears, ‘Don’t do it!’ but he begins to argue – life is tough, she jilted me, I’ve lost everything, life is meaningless, etc. Although we often out-argue the voice of our conscience or the Holy Spirit and justify wrong actions, eventually, wrong actions hurt us and that is satan’s ultimate aim. This is why he sows wrong thoughts into our minds.

Remember, 80% of your life happens in the way you reason and interpret what happens to you. These reasonings occur when you are having silent conversations with yourself, whether to accept a wrong idea or not. So, watch your silent conversations; pause and listen to yourself before you make a wrong decision that would lead to a rash action.

It takes superior reasoning to win an argument with an opponent. The Word of God represents SUPERIOR REASONING; its wisdom is divine and eternal. To win over arguments and reasonings in your mind therefore, embrace what the Word says about what to think on – if it is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy and of good report, then it is acceptable, if not, it should be discarded. Also, your true nature as a believer is Love, and love thinks no evil…let these Scriptures form the basis for handling every argument and reasoning the devil throws at you.

SCRIPTURE PHOTO

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Philippians 4:8, I Corinthians 13:4-5, & Isaiah 55:8-9

PRAYER POINT
Pray for grace and wisdom to always pause, listen to your inner conversations, and then align them to Philippians 4:8 before you respond to the things that happen in your life.