(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 KJV)

How many of us had imaginary friends when we were young? I never had an imaginary friend, but I always imagined that having an imaginary friend as a child gave some that familiar comfort of having if not someone but something the comfort to talk to. It gives the comfort of having someone to share our fears with. What’s better than to share our secrets with than that imaginary friend. ( after all who are they going to tell). Do you know the coolest part of having an imaginary friend as a child. Blaming them when something went wrong!

But I’m not here to talk to you today about imaginary friends. I mean yes for some having an imaginary friend was a normal part of growing up, but what about when your an adult and now that imaginary friend has become your imaginary enemy. Unlike imaginary friends though who some had as children and some of us who didn’t. We as adults all have imaginary enemies.  Here’s what some of it may sound like. You’re the worst mom in the history of the world my child will always be a trouble maker, you’re the reason why your marriage didn’t last maybe if you didn’t nag so much and was more supportive it would have lasted, Do you really think that your going to get healed from this sickness you know both of your grandmothers died from the very same thing. You’re doubly screwed! You’re never going to get married look at you what do you have to offer anybody. You’re stupid if you think that you’re going to get this job, do you honestly think out of all the applicants they will ever consider you!

The Apostle Paul tells us in verse 5 that we cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. What does it mean to cast down imaginations. It simply means to throw it down. In this case Paul is telling us to throw down our imaginations. Our imagination is the part of our minds that imagine things, whether it’s good or bad, real or faux. What I mean by real or faux is that did you know that our minds can take a real event but depending on how we feel provide some false truths. For example you can be at your office party when you think “Charlie” snubbed you when in reality Charlie just received word his sick dad will not make it through the week. It had nothing to do with you but our imaginary enemy will have us thinking that it does. The verse also continues on with and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. In other words were not just to cast down wrong imaginations, but anything that puts itself over God’s word. God will never ever tell you that you can’t. God will never torment you with your fears. In fact God has not given you the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. A couple years ago God told me to learn what’s not of him, so that way I would know what is of him. For instance I know that confusion is not from God so when I’m confused I know where it’s coming from. I really like the second half of verse 5 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  The word captivity means the condition of being imprisoned or confined. We can’t stop these thoughts from coming, but I do see that we are to imprison it into some small place in our minds. Some of our thoughts we can’t afford for it to make parole! Because if we did more than our imaginations would end up being confined.

I’ve heard it preached time and time again that our minds is the biggest battle field for the enemy. Do you know know that the Devil can use a simple sentence uttered by someone who has no intentions of trying to pull you down, he can use that to make you feel some type of way. I can give you a personal story a couple weeks ago I was reading the bio of another blogger and this blogger innocently stated that she knows that she was meant to be mom, that it was her calling. The enemy knows that I would give anything to be a mom and immediately I was angry because I felt that it wasn’t meant for me. This blogger wasn’t trying to offend me she was just acknowledging God for her blessings! I believe that the reason that the enemy loves to use our minds as a battlefield is because no one can see what your battling against. Others can’t see that behind your smile your battling to hold on and not give up. They can’t see that behind you being sweet and kind that inside of you there’s a war going on whether or not you should believe God’s promises or the Devils lies.

The enemy would love to keep us in a state of war between our ears. War means a state of hostility, conflict and antagonism; it’s a struggle or competition between opposing forces for a particular end.  God and Satan will always be opposing forces and unfortunately our minds is the meeting grounds! Both forces have a plan for your life. Here’s a secret though Satan will never tell you God’s plan for your life, but God will tell you the enemies plan. In John 10:10 it tells us the thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

The enemy loves nothing more than to steal the plans that God has for our lives, he wants nothing more to kill our relationships and to destroy our destiny. So he’ll plant imaginary enemies in our minds so that we may forfeit what God has designed. Here’s the beauty of the rest of the verse in John 10:10  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  Notice that the this verse mentions first that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, then it mentions that Jesus has come that we might have life more abundantly. God told me that it was for a reason. He says tell my children when you see the enemy coming at you trying to destroy what I already predestined, know that I’m on my way to offer you life and that more abundantly!!

But first we must cast down those Imaginary enemies!!

God’s blessings,

Aqua