Psalm 103:1-5.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
All spiritual, mental, and physical afflictions often begin in the mind, where spirits of deception operate. Satan uses our minds as the stage for his schemes. When he attacks—often subtly and without our awareness—our thoughts can become distorted, overpowering, and obsessed, taking control of our minds and influencing our behavior. As a result, we may unknowingly quench the Holy Spirit and begin following the deception of evil spirits, which leads to failure, destruction, and separation from God.
Scripture gives clear examples of this. A lying spirit enticed Ahab into destruction (1 Kings 22:20–22). During the time of the judges, a spirit stirred up conflict between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, leading to revolt (Judges 9:23). In Ezekiel’s day, even prophets were deceived by a spirit of delusion (Ezekiel 14:9). These same spirits continue to tempt both believers and unbelievers, working constantly to lead people astray and destroy lives. Their activity is increasing and causing spiritual devastation all around us. So how can we guard our minds from the evil one?
First, we must not allow anger to consume us. The Scripture says,
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:25–27).
The devil is the father of lies and works through deception. He is also a thief and a destroyer who provokes anger in us. While it is natural to feel anger at times, lingering in anger gives the enemy an opening to invade and influence our lives. The only way to overcome anger is to renew our minds daily through God’s Word and prayer, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, we must hold firmly to the truth. Scripture exposes the evil schemes of the devil trying to distort the truth:
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–11).
The only way to remain grounded in the truth is to meditate on God’s Word and continually bring it into focus through prayer. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture day and night, our spiritual discernment is sharpened, and our hearts are guarded against deception. God’s Word renews our minds, strengthens our faith, and gives us clarity to recognize and reject the enemy’s lies. When the Word of God takes root in us, we are anchored in Christ and not easily shaken by the pressures or falsehoods of the world.
Third, we must reject sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, as warned in Colossians 3:5. A lifestyle driven by the sinful nature eventually leads to destruction. Paul wrote, “Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5). If we continue to feed the flesh, the result is spiritual and physical ruin.
Above all, we must guard our thoughts carefully because our thoughts shape our lives. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We guard our hearts and minds through the gospel in the Word of God. We cast all our worries on Him because He has already given us the ultimate solution in Christ (1 Peter 5:7). Armed with Christ, who destroyed the devil’s work (1 John 3:8), and clothed in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), we engage in spiritual warfare and stand against the enemy.
The most destructive weapon against the kingdom of darkness is the proclamation of the gospel. Paul said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). God has given us the most powerful name—the name of Jesus. In His name, tie up the strong man (Matthew 12:29). When the enemy tries to deceive you, submit to God and His Word, and the devil will flee from you (James 4:7).
Whenever you feel resistance against the Word of God rising in your heart, know that the devil is attacking at full force. Do not be deceived. Stand up and launch a direct assault against the enemy in the name of Jesus, and you will see a decisive turning point in the battle.
Most of all, in moments of crisis, remember what God has done for you in Christ. As David wrote, “Praise the Lord, my soul… who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:1–5). This is how we guard our minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer. Father, may Your peace guard my soul, all my inmost being, thoughts, mind, and body throughout the day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.