Whoever has control of your thoughts has you. You’ll do what they want you to do, feel the way they want you to feel and say what they want you to say.
Are you a little anxious about the economy?
Why? Why are you anxious? Why do you feel that way?
It’s simple really. You feel anxious, because of certain thoughts you’ve allowed to take root and flourish. I know, because it happens to me.
I find it interesting that through the first seven chapters of Nehemiah there are not battles fought. Instead, there’s a propaganda campaign being waged, a kind of cold war.
Nehemiah, under God’s direction, has led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the walls around the city. Jerusalem’s enemies are angry. Every time Nehemiah turns around there’s another negative thought coming his way. His enemies send intimidating messages to discourage him. Check it out.
At one point, Nehemiah goes to a guy’s home to meet with him. This guy tries to deceive Nehemiah into sinning in a way that would destroy his reputation. Nehemiah realizes the guy has actually been hired by his enemies in an attempt to intimidate him.
Nehemiah also discovers that due to some family ties, the nobles of Judah are loyal to and in constant communication with one of his enemies, a guy named Tobiah. They keep telling Nehemiah the good things he’s doing and then report to Tobiah whatever Nehemiah says. Tobiah used that information to send intimidating letters to Nehemiah.
Not everyone around you is an ally. They may not be overt enemies, but covertly, they are being used by Satan to deceive and discourage you. He wants you to lose heart and quit whatever it is you’re doing for God. He’ll use anyone he can to spread his propaganda.
Be careful. Don’t listen to just anyone. If you are walking by faith, choosing to believe God, then the enemy will very likely wage a propaganda campaign against you to weaken your resolve, to shake your confidence in God.
Be on the lookout for it. If you are feeling anxious or worried or afraid, retrace your thoughts. Who did you choose to listen to? What wrong thinking were they spreading?
Reject those wrong thoughts and ideas and choose to believe God instead.