Battle of the Thoughts
Dr. Benjamin Hardy observed from an article published in 2005 by the National Science Foundation, that reported humans have an estimated 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. That sounds like a lot of “hoopla to me.”
In one of my favorite therapeutic models, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, there is a focus on cognition, or thoughts. This theory tells us that thoughts influence a person’s mood/ feelings, behavior, and the ultimate outcome of a situation (Beck, 2011). This means that our thoughts have the ability to make us “feel a type of way”, that lead us to do things with a favorable or unfavorable outcome. What types of thoughts do you think have better outcomes, have us feeling better, and have us doing better?
When we focus on thoughts that are true, we can experience peace and joy. So how can we address the thoughts that don’t bring us peace and joy? CHALLENGE THEM! Jesus shows us a prime example of how to do this in Matthew 4 where he in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:1-4 NKJV
From this passage I would like to highlight a few things: hungry, tempter, and answer.
Hunger
Jesus was physically hungry. He had fasted for a full forty days, and nights. Jesus was killing his flesh, and feeding off the Spirit. Because of this he was able to be led by the Spirit to his destination. Can you imagine Jesus not following the Spirit? Not making it to the Cross to die for our sins? That would have been an unfavorable outcome for mankind. Which brings this question to ask yourself, what are you feeding off of? What is your daily diet? This includes not only the foods you eat, but what you are listening to, reading, watching, and looking at? What are you hoarding?
Take inventory of the things in your environment, your room, car, books, phone, music, television shows, apps, advertisements on your apps, and saves on your Instagram. What would God have to say about the things that you are indulging yourself in?
Temptation
Satan and his minions’ purpose are to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10 NKJV). In order to for them to do these things, they scheme by tempting. As a follow-up to our diet, what are these things you are indulging trying to tempt you or sell you on? Everything that we interact with has a motivation or message that it’s trying to communicate.
To be transparent, recently I had to completely stop watching a television show that I had invested 3 seasons in. Three-seasons, yes! After noticing a reoccurring theme of it encouraging, and glamorizing things that were unbiblical and unholy, I had to part ways with it.
Some events, activities, places, and people may be declared as “cool” because of whatever society says. And you might feel a battle within you, a case of #FOMO. However, God will not think that you are uncool if you follow and keep His commandments. He will actually be proud of you. You also have support from us, a gang of others who are willing to take a stand and follow God no matter the cost.
If we perish, we perish!
Answer
Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation with some good ol’ Biblical truth times infinity. In Deuteronomy 8:3 it states, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (NKJV). *Holy Ghost Scream* This scripture refers to the Children of Israel in Exodus, who were in the wilderness and God provided for them manna from the sky. They depended on God throughout that entire journey to feed them, quench their thirst, and guide them to the promise land.
In Matthew 4, Jesus is in the wilderness too. He is depending on God and His Spirit to guide him through. Referring back to Matthew 4:4, Jesus is basically saying to Satan, “Bruh, you cannot tempt me. I eat, live, and sleep the words of my Father. I know Him and His truth.”
It is important that we know God’s word so that way we know what to say back to discouraging, untrue thoughts and words of Satan. Let’s take power back over our minds, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors! We do not have to fall victim to the enemy’s tactics!
I encourage you to read the rest of Matthew 4. Make note of what Satan tempts Jesus with, how Jesus responds back to Satan, and how this may apply to you.
With Love,
Crystal
SOURCES OF WISDOM
Beck, Judith. (2011). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
NKJV Journal the Word Bible (2018). Thomas Nelson.