The feelings and emotions enumerated are "works of the flesh" (Galatians
5:19-20), and it says in Galatians 5:16 "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
The Lord Jesus, after giving a list of evil things that defile a person, in
Mark 7:20-21, concluded with the statement: "All these evil things come from within and defile a man"(vs.23).
So if our mind and thoughts are preoccupied with the works of the flesh, with
wrong and sinful ideas that cause defilement, then at the opportune moment,
Satan will have us act accordingly and commit sin. We can overcome these through the power of the
Holy Spirit of God – given to every Born Again child of God to help and guide
him in his Christian life (John 16:13). Therefore the first thing we need to do
is be sure that we actually are a Born Again child of God, a Christian
Believer, by confessing our sins before the Lord Jesus, asking for His
forgiveness for them, and submitting our life to Him.
Unless one has experienced God’s forgiveness, we
cannot be forgiving ourself, and the way to be victorious against such emotions
and feelings is only through forgiveness – ask God to forgive us for being
unforgiving, and we too forgive the person for whatever wrong he has done to
us, just as the Lord has forgiven us all the wrong that we have committed
against Him (Matthew 6:11, 14-15; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Colossians 3:13).
Next, since what is inside our heart and mind controls
our thoughts and deeds, therefore we need to, fill our hearts and minds with
Godly thoughts and God's Word. Spend time reading and studying God’s Word the
Bible and listening to Christian songs and worship, and Christian messages.
Also utilize our time in keeping company with God’s Born Again children,
through Bible studies, Prayer meetings, and House fellowship meetings etc. as
often as we can. We need to ask God to help us change our thoughts and desires
into those in line with His Word and will for us. For doing this, Philippians 4:4-9
shows us the way:
4 Rejoice in the
Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Stay preoccupied with and
rejoicing about the Lord – the things He has done, is doing, the help and
security He provides, His continual presence with us, His promises for us, the
eternal benefits He has bestowed upon us etc.
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The
Lord is at hand. – With the thoughts of the Lord Jesus and His attributes
taking hold of our mind, strive to behave like Him – be tender and gentle to
all, not just to some specific ones, and let this be evident in our behaviour.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God; – Thank God for everything, good or bad, even the unexplainable and
incomprehensible in our life, since there is nothing that happens in a
Believers life that will not eventually work for his good (Romans 8:28) through
the grace and will of God. Being thankful is being trusting and faithful to
God. Therefore put forth our requests to God with thankfulness. The verse says
- " let your requests be made known
to God" i.e. neither be demanding or impatient about them nor instruct
God how to go about doing His job, just inform Him and let Him do the rest. God
has a method and timing for everything, and it is the best (1 Peter 5:6-7).
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Our
not being anxious, rather being thankful for everything, will ensure that God's
peace will control and guard our heart and mind, so Satan will not be able to
place his thoughts within us, nor draw us into doing anything wrong.
8 Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things
are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy--meditate on these things. – To meditate upon something, it
has to be within us, within our heart and mind; so, fill our mind with the
things of God, and virtuous thoughts stated in this verse, and remain
pre-occupied with them. Even when that offending person comes our way, if we
are thinking and meditating upon good things, the wrong things will not find
place in our heart.
9 The things which you learned and received
and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. –
Emulate the people of God, practically live the Christian life as taught in
God’s Word and seen in the life of God’s people, and witness about the
Christian Faith through our life – it will help us overcome Satan’s ploys
(Revelation 12:11).
Living according to Philippians 4:4-9 will bring a
radical transformation in our thoughts and desires, and help us overcome our
negative thoughts. We should take this a step further by fulfilling Romans
12:17-21 as well, and ask God to provide us with opportunities to go and help
the person we have problems with, and to give us the grace and strength to
actually help him when the opportunity comes.
As a child of God, we have God’s Holy Spirit within us
to help us be overcoming and victorious (1 Corinthians 6:19), and “For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7), therefore fearlessly live a Christian life of power, love and sound
mind.
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