Free Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer Page A
Authors: Joyce Meyer
must not allow reasoning to talk us out of doing it.
God gives us understanding on many issues, but we do not have to understand everything to walk with the Lord and in obedience to His will. There are times when God leaves huge question marks as tools in our lives to stretch our faith. Unanswered questions crucify the flesh life.
It is difficult for human beings to give up reasoning and simply trust God, but once the process is accomplished, the mind enters into a place of rest.
Reasoning is one of the "busy activities" in which the mind engages that prevents discernment and revelation knowledge. There is a big difference in head knowledge and revelation knowledge.
I don't know about you, but I want God to reveal things to me in such a way that I know in my spirit that what has been revealed to my mind is correct. I don't want to reason, to figure and to be logical, rotating my mind around and around an issue until I am worn out and confused. I want to experience the peace of mind and heart that comes from trusting in God, not in my own human insight and understanding.
You and I must grow to the place where we are satisfied to know the One Who knows, even if we ourselves do not know.
RESOLVE TO KNOW NOTHING BUT CHRIST
As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;
For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1,2
This was Paul's approach to knowledge and reasoning, and I have come to understand and appreciate it. It took a long time, but I finally realized that in many instances, the less I know the happier I am.
Sometimes we find out so much it makes us quite miserable.
I was always a very curious, inquisitive person. I had to have everything figured out in order to be satisfied. God began to show me that my constant reasoning was the basis of my confusion and that it was preventing me from receiving what He wanted to give me. He said, "Joyce, you must lay aside carnal reasoning if you ever expect to have discernment."
I realize now that I felt more secure if I had things figured out. I did not want any loose ends in my life. I wanted to be in control—and when I did not understand things, I felt out of control—frightened. But I was lacking something. I had no peace of mind and was physically worn out from reasoning.
This type of continual wrong mental activity will even make your physical body tired. It can leave you exhausted!
God required me to give it up, and I strongly suggest the same thing for anyone who is addicted to reasoning. Yes, I said addicted to reasoning. We can become addicted to wrong mental activity just as someone else can get addicted to drugs or alcohol or nicotine. I was addicted to reasoning and when I gave it up I had withdrawal symptoms. I felt lost and frightened because I did not know what was going on. I even felt bored.
I had spent so much of my mental time reasoning that when I gave it up, I had to become accustomed to my mind being so peaceful. For a while it seemed boring, but now I love it. While I used to run my mind all the time on everything, now I can't tolerate the pain and labor of reasoning.
Reasoning is not the normal condition in which God wants our mind to reside.
Be aware that when the mind is filled with reasoning, it is not normal.
At least not for the Christian who intends to be victorious—the believer who intends to win the war that is fought on the battlefield of the mind.
Chapter 11
A Doubtful and Unbelieving Mind
...O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
MATTHEW 14:31
And He marveled because of their unbelief...
MARK 6:6
We usually talk about
God gives us understanding on many issues, but we do not have to understand everything to walk with the Lord and in obedience to His will. There are times when God leaves huge question marks as tools in our lives to stretch our faith. Unanswered questions crucify the flesh life.
It is difficult for human beings to give up reasoning and simply trust God, but once the process is accomplished, the mind enters into a place of rest.
Reasoning is one of the "busy activities" in which the mind engages that prevents discernment and revelation knowledge. There is a big difference in head knowledge and revelation knowledge.
I don't know about you, but I want God to reveal things to me in such a way that I know in my spirit that what has been revealed to my mind is correct. I don't want to reason, to figure and to be logical, rotating my mind around and around an issue until I am worn out and confused. I want to experience the peace of mind and heart that comes from trusting in God, not in my own human insight and understanding.
You and I must grow to the place where we are satisfied to know the One Who knows, even if we ourselves do not know.
RESOLVE TO KNOW NOTHING BUT CHRIST
As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;
For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1,2
This was Paul's approach to knowledge and reasoning, and I have come to understand and appreciate it. It took a long time, but I finally realized that in many instances, the less I know the happier I am.
Sometimes we find out so much it makes us quite miserable.
I was always a very curious, inquisitive person. I had to have everything figured out in order to be satisfied. God began to show me that my constant reasoning was the basis of my confusion and that it was preventing me from receiving what He wanted to give me. He said, "Joyce, you must lay aside carnal reasoning if you ever expect to have discernment."
I realize now that I felt more secure if I had things figured out. I did not want any loose ends in my life. I wanted to be in control—and when I did not understand things, I felt out of control—frightened. But I was lacking something. I had no peace of mind and was physically worn out from reasoning.
This type of continual wrong mental activity will even make your physical body tired. It can leave you exhausted!
God required me to give it up, and I strongly suggest the same thing for anyone who is addicted to reasoning. Yes, I said addicted to reasoning. We can become addicted to wrong mental activity just as someone else can get addicted to drugs or alcohol or nicotine. I was addicted to reasoning and when I gave it up I had withdrawal symptoms. I felt lost and frightened because I did not know what was going on. I even felt bored.
I had spent so much of my mental time reasoning that when I gave it up, I had to become accustomed to my mind being so peaceful. For a while it seemed boring, but now I love it. While I used to run my mind all the time on everything, now I can't tolerate the pain and labor of reasoning.
Reasoning is not the normal condition in which God wants our mind to reside.
Be aware that when the mind is filled with reasoning, it is not normal.
At least not for the Christian who intends to be victorious—the believer who intends to win the war that is fought on the battlefield of the mind.
Chapter 11
A Doubtful and Unbelieving Mind
...O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
MATTHEW 14:31
And He marveled because of their unbelief...
MARK 6:6
We usually talk about
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