21 Day Prayer ChallengeSample

Day 9- Protection Over My Mind  

• God’s Word

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT) 

• Today’s Thought

Most of the spiritual battles we face begin with the mind. It's easy to hear something in the news or have a disagreement with someone or even hear rumors that run wild in our minds. It might even be the preoccupation of fearing what others may be saying or thinking about you. If we're under pressure or stress about our work, finances, or relationship, it's easy to have depressed thoughts and dwell on the negative beyond our control. When this happens, we have a choice. We can either continue to dwell on those negative thoughts and lies or replace those thoughts with the truth and positive declarations from God's word. 

The Apostle Paul challenged us in Philippians 4:8-9 to "fix your thoughts." Rather than allowing our minds to rehearse the negative, we need to refocus and renew our minds by fixing our thoughts on what is positive, true, and beneficial. Doing this requires discipline by having the "mind of Christ" and putting on the "helmet of salvation" to help us guard against the lies and negative thoughts the devil can use to sabotage our emotions and even our behavior. Remember, what we choose to put in our minds comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Ask God today to fill your mind with good and pure thoughts that will give you God's peace in your life. 

As we continue to pray this prayer of blessing over family, friends, and our future, let's pray that God will protect our minds and give us the mind of Christ.   

• My Prayer 

May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT) 

Lord, thank you for allowing me to be blessed with a mind that can think of so many good, pure, creative, and helpful thoughts that can be so beneficial to my life. I also know that I am guilty of allowing my mind to drift into negativity and even destructive, self-defeating thoughts. Today, I ask that you could give me the "mind of Christ" and allow me to fix my thoughts on you today. I surrender every thought and place it under your control and protection. Thank you for giving me the power of a sound mind so that my thoughts may be pleasing to you and those around me.  In Jesus' name, amen.