The Power of an Overcoming Mindset
A mind that is geared to overcome.
“Your mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except
by your permission.”
By Pastor George Lehman
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 (NIV) – 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary*, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up *against the knowledge of God, and we *take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
*The very opposite is true
*It’s those inner thoughts we battle with
*We must take our own minds captive first – It all starts in the thoughts.
We all have battles and issues in our lives that we either want to overcome or are in the process of overcoming.
I truly believe that there is a peace, resilience* and a consistency that comes with an overcoming mentality. (*sterk taai)
As a child of God you can’t just daydream your way through life….
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) – Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
You cannot drive your motorcycle and daydream –Road safety campaign slogan says: Stay Alert & Stay Alive.
WE NEED TO BE ALERT.
The devil can’t handle the word of God spoken in Faith – Jesus said to the devil, “It is written” and he left. At His weakest He was strong with the Word living in Him.
You have to have your eyes fixed on the prize. Focused ahead on getting through whatever you’re facing.
An overcoming mindset will get through.
All overcoming stems from the joy and peace in believing that better things lie ahead of you.
Your first obstacle you have to overcome and conquer is your own negativity
• Negativity about the world around you (Garbage in – garbage out)
• Negativity about the Lord and His promises
• Negativity that involves unbelief and doubt
You need to wage this war first before overcoming any other battle.
LIKE: Negativity, procrastination, doubt, fear, anxiety, anger, resentment, bitterness and unbelief give the enemy so many tools and weapons to create havoc
A believer that is so undermined becomes a “Trojan horse” (The Greeks who took Troy)
When we speak about having an overcoming mindset we can only do so by talking about what replaces them.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) – You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
The person whose thoughts are consumed with God will have perfect peace – Instead of anxiety and worry.
What are the benefits of God centered thinking?
Philippians 4:8 (MSG) – 8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Noble – Good,Reputable: Respectable
Compelling – Thrilling
Paul gives us the Keys to an Overcoming Mindset.
Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) – 1Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
#1 An Overcoming Mindset is developed by a focus on our resurrected position
Ephesians 1:19-20 (Amp) – 19and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength. 20which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.
Galatians 2:20 (Amp) – I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
#2 An Overcoming Mindset is developed by a life of continual discipline.
Colossians 3:2 (NIV) – 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Note: Set = It will take discipline.
Paul says
1 Corinthians 9:27 (Amp) – 27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].
Self-control – Alert – Takes discipline
#3 An Overcoming Mindset is developed by focusing on our Hidden life in Christ.
Colossians 3:3 (NIV) – 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
To be hidden in Christ means protection
Psalm 32:7 (NIV) – You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
#4 An Overcoming Mindset is developed by focusing on our future in Christ.
Colossians 3:4 (NIV) – 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
They way you think about your future will affect how you live today.
Philippians 3:20-21 (LB) – 20But our homeland is in heaven, where our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ is; and we are looking forward to his return from there. 21When he comes back, he will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer all else everywhere.
1 John 3:2-3 (LB) – 2Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, right now, and we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. 3And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure.
Let us trust God to help us have an Overcoming Mindset.
