It's Not You

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness and high places.  Ephesians 6:12
  
Those negative thoughts you may be having today are not you.  Those thoughts may include thinking that you are a failure, thinking you will never get out of a financial bind, wondering if you will ever get married or have children, or even feeling like you will never overcome a perpetual addiction.  Satan is a master psychologist.  A pastor once said that Satan will make negative thoughts that run through your head seem as if you are thinking them.  He has studied human beings for countless years and knows what thought will get your attention and possibly cause defeat in your life.  The moment you have a negative self-defeating thought from the enemy is known as a temptation.  Yielding to the thought and acting in accordance with it means the temptation was successful while rejecting it means it was not.  You do not have to yield to those thoughts and think that they are your own.  If a thought does not line up with God’s Word, you can refuse to accept it.  Recognize that there is an enemy out there and that there is a war waging.  The ultimate goal of that enemy during this war is to kill, to steal, and to destroy (John 10:10).  Also remember though that once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and have been born again, that in your spirit, you are just as pure as Jesus (Galatians 5:22-23)!  Those thoughts are not who you really are!  Cast down those negative thoughts and refuse to accept them as your own.  Replace them with the Word of God and cultivate a new victorious image in your heart by meditating on the Word of God.  Those negative thoughts come only for one purpose, to zap your strength and to tempt you into losing your resolve but the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  Those negative thoughts are not yours, so walk in victory today!