Many times through the years I’ve heard this statement, “Everything is really just mind over matter.” In society’s perspective this would mean that our thoughts can control our painful circumstances with concentration and positive thinking, such as walking on hot coals and not feeling the pain if we tell ourselves that it’s not painful. Now I’m not suggesting you try this because I’m pretty sure we all have enough to deal with without adding hot coals to the mix! However, in my walk with God I’ve learned that his Word has the ability to destroy any “matter” that may be trying to disrupt our lives.
About ten years into my Christian walk and in my early thirties, I was faced with a situation that caused terrible pain, which in turn produced continual hurtful thoughts. One night I was driving down the freeway alone, exhausted from the constant torment in my mind, and I said out loud to the Lord – in a very frustrated way I might add – “Take this from me!” And he immediately said to me – quite calmly – “I told you to do it.” I was so caught off guard from actually getting an answer so quickly that I had to consider what he was saying. Immediately thereafter this scripture came to mind, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 KJV). Right then I began speaking out loud and casting down my thoughts that did not line up with what the Word of God had to say about my situation. They went away. However, these thoughts continued to surface and I had to keep casting them down. After several weeks of this, the thoughts no longer had power over me.
As Christ followers, we often expect God to take something away when in truth he has given us the wisdom and power in his Word to do it ourselves. I guess you could call that mind over matter. But I say that any mind that will agree with the Word of God will be empowered to drive out any matter that tries to come against us! The scripture tells us “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit…” (Hebrews 4:12 (NIV). We must always remember that the Word of God is powerful and effective – not like any ordinary book.
It was through the practice and process of the Lord teaching me to take control of my mind and align my thoughts with his Word that allowed me to overcome when the unthinkable happened. Standing in my office in downtown Houston and being told that my husband and four youngest children had not survived a horrible accident immediately caused me to think my life was over. I couldn’t see a future and cannot express the depth of despair that was trying to swallow me. However, the grace of God almost immediately rushed in and his beautiful love and protection shielded me from what could have been life long debilitating torment.
It was only two days later as I was thinking about what I knew of others who had lost someone they loved so deeply and wondering what would become of us that Jesus interrupted my thoughts and spoke something that would change everything for me. He said, “Do not expect to receive what anybody else has experienced. Let me walk you through this.” I immediately understood that he was trying to change my mind. I said, “Okay Lord. That’s what we’ll do.” Over the next 21 days, God spoke truths to me from his Word that changed my mind about our future. I went from utter devastation to the hope of healing and better days. Ephesians 4:23 says, “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]. (AMP). This only comes through the power of the Word of God.
I wish I could tell you that it was easy from that point forward. It wasn’t. But what I can tell you is that God gave me the grace to walk out each day and he never left my side. Through the first year I had to take control of my mind and reject many thoughts that were contrary to his Word as he healed my heart and began the process of restoration. If you will start this process, I can promise he will do the very same thing for you. What does God need to change your mind about? I pray you will let him do it today.