YOU ARE NOT ALONESample

The Battle for Your Mind

Did you know you’re part of an epic battle? Not with suits of armor and swords. Not with dragons or spaceships or superheroes. Not with armies or tanks or big explosions.

You’re in a battle for your mind. It’s a quiet, invisible battle that goes on between your ears. But it’s a fight just the same.

Don’t worry. You’re not fighting alone. People all around you are fighting it too. Adults are fighting alongside you. God is fighting with you, and He promises the big war is already won. Still, while we’re living in the brokenness of this world, we have to fight through everyday battles.

What is this daily battle?

Maybe you’ve felt it. It’s all those messages that trickle into your mind, the ones that make you start thinking, I’m helpless. I’m worthless. I’m unlovable. It’s when out-of-control thoughts and feelings seem to drag you down and take over.

If it feels like you’re under attack from all sides, it’s because... . well, you are.

You may hear a lot about anxiety, depression, fears, and worries. People used to be too embarrassed to talk about that stuff, but not as much these days. Kids are talking to one another about their struggles. And that’s great. It’s so much better to be aware of and open about the battles we face, isn’t it?

Still, you’re under a lot of pressure. Between world problems, family problems, pressures at school, and media - a lot of you are constantly getting input from hundreds, even thousands, of other people! You may feel like you’re carrying a lot of people’s opinions and a lot of people’s burdens. It can be so heavy.

Yep, there’s a battle going on for your mind. But you have everything you need to step up and fight—and win. The Bible tells us:

Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 6:12, ICB).

Sounds scary, right? How do we fight against something we can’t even see? With these special weapons, God gives us:

We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God. These weapons can destroy the enemy’s strong places…We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4–5, ICB)

Let’s dig in over the next four days and find out more about how to win this fight.

Discuss

Parents and kids: Discuss the things you feel like you’re battling against in your mind. What feels heaviest to you right now? Pray together and ask God to help you learn how to win the fight for your thoughts!