The Battle for Your Mind

by Rick Warren — January 17, 2025
From Preparing for Your Future

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”

Romans 8:5 (NLT)

There is a battle going on inside you between your old, sinful nature and your new nature that comes from Christ. If you want to win this battle, you’re going to have to change the way you think.

Why? The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. If you act discouraged, it’s because you feel discouraged. And if you feel discouraged, it’s because you’re thinking discouraging thoughts. But you don’t have to stay in those thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts in a better direction.

When Satan gives you thoughts, that’s temptation. But when God gives you thoughts, that’s inspiration. Which are you going to choose? Romans 8:6 says, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (NLT).

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t choose life and peace over death. But the truth is you have self-destructive thoughts all the time. So what do you do?

Here’s how the Holy Spirit can free you from uncontrolled thoughts: It’s the principle of replacement. If you want to change something in your life, don’t resist that thing; instead, replace it.

If you’re watching television and a show comes on that you know is bad for you, change the channel to something better. If you want to quit smoking but you keep thinking about cigarettes, change your focus to something else. The Bible says you have to replace the old mindset with the new mindset.

You can even ask the Holy Spirit to give you new ideas to think about that will replace the old, bad thoughts. You’ll find that he’ll answer your request. And when you start thinking about something positive instead of something negative, something good instead of something evil, the old will lose its appeal and won’t have its allure anymore. 

So invite the Holy Spirit to have free access to your mind to help replace those uncontrolled thoughts. Ask something like this: “Dear Holy Spirit, I give you permission to give me thoughts any time you want. I’m wide open and I will accept them. I have an open mind to you.”

Talk It Over

  • The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. How are you feeling and acting today? Are there thoughts you need to change to feel and act in healthier ways?
  • The principle of replacement says that, if you want to change something in your life, you should replace it instead of resisting it. What’s a negative thought, impulse, or habit that you’ve been resisting? What can you replace it with instead?
  • When have you experienced the Holy Spirit giving you new ideas to replace bad thoughts? Do you need to ask him to do that for you today?

Where to find a hope that will not disappoint.

God proved his love for you through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, start by praying this simple prayer:

“Dear God, I don’t want my sin to separate me from you any longer. You have promised that if I believe in Jesus, you’ll forgive me for everything I’ve ever done wrong, and you’ll accept me into your family and bring me to heaven one day to live with you for eternity.

“Jesus, I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I ask you to come into my life as my Lord. Today, I commit my life to you.

“I want to live the way you created me to live—at peace and rested—and to use the remainder of my life to serve you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.