Have you considered the importance of your thought life? Consider the thoughts that we have when we don’t need to focus on daily chores and projects, but during our spare time like just before going to sleep, or as we awake in the morning, or perhaps while exercising. These thoughts can be useful, but if they are unwelcome thoughts, we can manage them by seeing them as a spiritual competition, a competition between our new life, which wants to think wholesome thoughts, and our old life, which is susceptible to Satan’s urging to doubt God’s promises.
Phil.4:8 tells us what to focus on in our thought life:
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ESV. These “whatevers” result from believing God’s promises to take care of us.
But our thoughts sometimes stray from these “whatevers” to thoughts that we don’t want: Anxieties, failures, mistakes, hopelessness, grief, guilt, disappointments, challenges, loneliness, fears of the future, bitterness, retribution, anger, resentment, and doubt can also fill our thought life. These are Satan’s “whatevers.” When such thoughts overwhelm us, we have caught the Old Life in action, for the old life is susceptible to the suggestions of Satan. Peter warns us: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan manipulates our old life by bringing doubts about God’s promises to care for us. Jesus describes Satan this way: He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NLT
Jesus however provides his word for us to fight Satan’s lies with God’s truth:
Jesus said “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-2 NASB
This is the method Jesus himself used when he resisted Satan in the wilderness: The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered, “It is written:‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but by everyone word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Luke 4:3-4 BSB
Paul tells us how to fight against unwelcome thoughts: The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God, we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (Good News translation)
CONCLUSION. God’s “whatevers” come from relying on the truth of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, on confidence in God’s promises to hear our prayers and never forsake us, and on the supernatural peace that the world cannot give. We can resist Satan’s “whatevers” by putting our focus on gratitude for God’s blessings, on God’s word, on intercessory prayer, and on ideas and plans to share God’s love with others.
Our goal is Romans 12:2: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.