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Who’s the boss? Protect your mind and speak to your soul 

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. [emphasis added]

Is it any wonder that hope is described as a helmet in the Bible? Think about all the attacks you’ve experienced in your life, the things that have caused you to give up on long-held dreams, or held you back from pursuing something you felt called to. 

Chances are that they were a carefully-crafted assault on your mind. Thoughts that kept you up at night and nagged at you during the day. Niggling doubts, little accusations, slightly-skewed perceptions, and ongoing lies telling you that you just can’t do it.

Faith, love and hope are all described as pieces of armor in the Bible. The other pieces of armor – the breastplate, the shield – protect our heart and other vital organs. But the helmet of hope protects the head. The brain, the mind – our body’s control center and decision-maker. I don’t know about you, but knowing that makes me want to keep my helmet intact. 

The hope of salvation, in which all our hope is grounded, is an indispensable piece of armor. We can’t afford to give the enemy access to our thinking. To let negativity and doubt to take over, or even to take ground. We need to wake up every morning and declare our standing and our authority in Christ – our salvation. 

When your hope is attacked, you need to recognize it and call it out. In Psalm 42:5 (NKJV), the psalmist says ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.’ 

By soul, we mean our emotions and thinking. God created us to be body, soul and spirit. But all too often, we allow our souls – our own feelings and thoughts – to have the last word. The deciding vote. Let me tell you, you cannot allow feelings to be your decision-makers. Emotions come and go. They’re unreliable. Instead, draw on the strength in your spirit and talk to your soul.

By putting on the helmet of hope, we are taking active responsibility for keeping our hope alive, no matter what season or challenge we may find ourselves in. Remember, love is our foundation, faith activates the miraculous, and hope is what connects the two. Our hope literally paves the way for miracles.

If you don’t put on your helmet, if you don’t speak to your soul, those negative thoughts can creep in and take over. Make the decision to put on God’s hope and claim victory in this battle! Stand on your salvation. Choose a hope-filled scripture and repeat it over yourself today. Decide who’s going to be the boss of your mind and soul. Negative thoughts and feelings? Or the truth of God’s Word?