Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) You have imaginations running through your head—little movies you play out throughout your day—and many times they are not based on truth. If you’re dealing with a serious illness, you might go so far as to imagine your funeral. Your eyes may tear up as you picture your loved ones’ reactions or as you think about who will look after them when you’re gone. These little snippets reveal what you believe about your future. If you allow your mind to daydream about a vision that goes against what God has promised you, you’re developing a stronghold within your mind. These strongholds can become so ingrained deep …

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16 (NLT) You’re probably pretty certain about the colour of your eyes. Someone would have a hard time convincing you that your eyes are blue if you know they’re brown. But if they try to convince you of something you’re unsure about, it’s a different story. If the thought, I’m a failure, pops up and you aren’t confident that you’re an overcomer through Christ, you just might accept that lie. And if you keep thinking about it, it will begin to affect how you act. This is how the enemy works. He pops little thoughts into your mind, but these lies can’t take root …

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:14 (NLT) How do you see yourself? Your thought life is powerful. If you continue to think about something, eventually it becomes a firm belief, which means your heart becomes fully persuaded. When a belief takes root in your heart, your heart begins to produce that belief. If you keep dwelling on your failures, you’ll begin to believe deep in your heart that you’re a loser. You might even begin to unconsciously sabotage everything you do. I’ve watched believers sabotage themselves, right as they’re on the brink of doing something incredible, just because they can’t see themselves succeeding. You need to realize that you’re an overcomer and that …

Stand therefore…having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:14–15 (NKJV) Where do you get your right standing with God? If you think that you can get it from your own behaviour—from doing right and avoiding wrong—you’re in trouble. The devil will draw your attention to every wrong thought and action so you think that God doesn’t want anything to do with you. Then, if you need healing or some other miracle in your life, the enemy’s tricks will be focused on trying to make you think that you don’t deserve it. It’s not that the devil can attack you with sickness. He isn’t that powerful! The only thing he can do …

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 (NLT) Ephesians 6:10 makes it clear that your strength and power are found in God. You’re strong in power because you’ve accepted Jesus. And if you come to know who you are and understand the authority and power you have in Christ, the devil won’t worry you one bit. Jesus completely defeated the devil. When Jesus died, He took our punishment, shame and condemnation and exchanged it for His peace, joy, righteousness and love. He gave us right standing with God as a gift. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, sitting at the right hand of the Father with all authority and power, and as …