How are you protecting your head and mind?

Protecting our minds and those of our loved ones should be a priority. As a kid, I remember not having to wear a helmet; nowadays it’s a requirement. I also remember how seatbelts weren’t required for a time either, yet they are a requirement too. So if we consider how important our brains are to our livelihood, shouldn’t we be about protecting our heads and minds? Are you taking every thought captive and making them submit to Jesus so that you can protect yourself? What about the full armor of God, are you putting on the helmet of salvation? Do you realize the importance of choosing the right living? How about the impact on your head, mind, and life when you don’t go about living the right way?

Protecting by wearing The Helmet of Salvation

The Apostle Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:17 to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The helmet of salvation is crucial in protecting our minds from the spiritual attacks of the enemy. Salvation through Jesus Christ guards our thoughts and beliefs, ensuring we are rooted in the gospel’s truth.

Key Takeaways:

• The helmet of salvation is part of the spiritual armor necessary for protecting our minds.
• It signifies the assurance of our salvation and the importance of maintaining a gospel-centered mindset.
• This protection helps us to deflect doubts, fears, and false teachings that can lead us astray.

Practical Application:

• Daily remind yourself of your salvation and the eternal life you have in Christ. This can be done through prayer, meditation, and reading scripture.
• Regularly engage in worship and fellowship with other believers to reinforce your understanding and assurance of salvation.
• When faced with negative thoughts or spiritual attacks, actively recall scriptures that affirm your identity and security in Christ.

Protecting by Taking Every Thought Captive

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul emphasizes, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This verse underscores the importance of controlling our thoughts and aligning them with God’s truth. It is a proactive approach to protect our minds from being influenced by harmful and untruthful ideas.

Key Takeaways:

• We are called to actively manage our thoughts and ensure they conform to the teachings of Christ.
• This involves discernment and discipline to reject thoughts that oppose God’s truth.
• Capturing our thoughts helps maintain a pure and focused mind that is resistant to deception and negativity.

Practical Application:

• Practice mindfulness and self-reflection to identify and correct thoughts that do not align with God’s Word.
• Memorize and meditate on scriptures that address common struggles or negative thoughts you encounter.
• Use prayer as a tool to seek God’s help in renewing your mind and overcoming mental battles.

Protecting by Choosing Right Living

Philippians 4:8 provides a blueprint for right thinking: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This verse encourages us to focus our minds on virtuous and godly attributes, fostering a healthy and Christ-like mindset.

Key Takeaways:

• Our thought life should be centered on positive, godly principles.
• Right thinking leads to right living, impacting our actions and overall well-being.
• By focusing on virtues, we protect our minds from corruption and negativity.

Practical Application:

• Cultivate a habit of gratitude by regularly listing things you are thankful for and praising God for His goodness.
• Engage with content (books, media, conversations) that uplifts and aligns with biblical values.
• Surround yourself with positive influences and seek out fellowship that encourages spiritual growth and right living.

The Importance and Truth of Protecting Your Mind

Protecting your head and mind is not only about physical safety but also about spiritual and mental well-being. The Bible provides clear guidance on this, emphasizing the importance of the helmet of salvation, taking every thought captive, and choosing right living. These principles guard against spiritual attacks, help maintain a Christ-centered mindset, and promote a life aligned with God’s truth. By implementing these biblical practices, you can protect your mind from harmful influences and ensure your thoughts and actions glorify God. Embracing these truths is crucial for a healthy spiritual life and a robust defense against the enemy’s schemes.

Topic: HELMETS AND CAULIFLOWERS

Verse: Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Today’s devotional starts speaking to something we all have that is so much more valuable than anything we could find or buy and it is our mind. It compares this creation of God to a “living supercomputer with unfathomable circuitry and unimaginable complexity.” Today’s devotional points to the reality that similar to AI “the brain is only as useful as the material it feeds on.” So today let’s choose to fix our thoughts “on Christ and filled with His Word.”

Protecting our minds

Today’s devotional points us to Colossians 3:2 that says:

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

and then to Romans 12:1-2 that says:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

and closes with Romans 8:5 that says:

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

We learn how “wearing the helmet of salvation means our minds are protected by the saving truth of Christ.” It also teaches us how “we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds” and we must choose to “live according to the Spirit” so that we can “set our minds on what the Spirit desires.”

Protecting our families

Today’s devotional closes with Psalms 37:3 which teaches us to feed on the faithfulness of God! Let’s be the dads who are protective of what we allow into our minds and the minds of our loved ones today. Our minds are a battleground that the enemy is trying to win and control. Today it is important that we choose to focus on Jesus who has already won the victory and as such we can be victorious through Him!

“Our defeat or vistory begins with what we think, and if we guard our thoughts we shall not have much trouble anywhere else along the line.”

VANCE HAVNER