The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 56: Fighting the Battle in Our Minds
Through playing sports growing up, watching them on TV for years, and now hanging at the field watching my boys play, I’ve closely engaged with sports for a long time. And in really general terms, the games have not changed all that much. Instead, it is the strategies and training that have dramatically improved over time.
In Romans 7, Paul talks about the everyday struggle of knowing the right thing yet doing the opposite. Does that sound familiar? It should, because he faced the same fight we face today – the battle for our minds. Much like sports, the game hasn’t changed, but the enemy’s tactics have certainly improved.
In The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis talks about two mistakes we make when considering the devils we fight: 1) Ignore them, or 2) give them too much credit. Ignoring them results in not paying attention to what we consume and the voices we listen to. Giving them too much credit results in us living in the grips of shame, frozen in the idea that “this is just how I am.”
But the good news is that our tools have gotten better too. We have a much greater understanding of how the mind works and countless new strategies to develop habits and create boundaries that will shape us and how we think about ourselves and the world.
But maybe most important is an age-old approach… authentic community. And that’s where the importance of mentors lie. Mentors, your mentees are entering your homes engaged in a battle. And your job as their leader is to show them your battle scars and then help them discover the tools and build the strategies they need to fight the war.
The resources below should help you as you lead them. Fight on!
elieving a lie holds you back from doing what God’s calling you to do. In this article, Craig Groeschel helps us explore how to break free of these lies.
GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD: A 5-DAY READING PLAN
Do you fall prey to your spiraling thoughts and toxic thinking patterns? The enemy of our souls wants to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference. Get out of your head and into God’s promises in this thought-changing devotional.
Start reading on YouVersion here.
BATTLE OF OUR MINDS
HOW WE CHANGE: UNINTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Breathe New Life Into Your Discipleship
Small group mentoring can help you engage your people, build your core group of leaders, and transform your church. Our free resources equip you with all the tools you need to launch a sustainable mentoring program.