Double Mind takes away Sound Mind (Devotional)

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Double-mind takes away Sound Mind.

If you have a double-mind (or a dirty mind), you will not have a sound mind, because "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8, and because..

you are walking in the flesh, and not walking in the spirit, it therefore corrupts your mind, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6-11.

What causes doublemindedness?

lustful thoughts or fantasies

focusing on the things of this world, being earthly minded instead of heavenly minded

indecisiveness on whether you will serve God or self (which ultimately causes you to serve self). indecision is decision.

thinking lowly of others or exalting yourself as if you're better or more special

entertaining bad thoughts through unGodly sights (what you watch or look at: ie, tv,computer, even things or people out in public), sounds (what you listen to, ie music, tv), reading material that pollutes pure thoughts through dialogue or filthy language

What causes singlemindedness or a sober mind?

Initially it is first given to one who becomes born again and "is a new creation", 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Timothy 1:7

An unbeliever cannot have a sound mind that honors God. Romans 8:7

For God has not given us (His born again believers) a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

How do we keep or restore a sound, sober, single mind?

'To be spiritually minded is life and peace',Romans 8:6, so 'set your mind on things above,not on the things that are on the earth', -Colossians 3:2, and 'walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh,' Galatians 5:16, and take "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5, so that'd be like if your mind were an airport, make Christ your security checkpoint of thoughts (passengers) entering your mind and let Him examine and refuse and turn away what is on His 'no fly' list and arrest any 'illegal trespassers' or 'stowaways' and kick them out. Your mind is His airport so to speak, and He is to be in charge of admission of what comes in and what goes out, in order to keep harm or disaster from a plane (yourself) falling to destruction.

1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.…

These things need to be done diligently and daily, for Paul says "I die (to self) daily" -1 Corinthians 15:31, and we must "take up our cross daily" as Jesus said -Luke 9:23 .

Colossians 2:6

6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

How did you receive Jesus? Through repentance and faith, so how do you walk in Him? Through repentance and faith, it is not a one time thing you look back to, it is a daily thing you do as a follower of Jesus Christ. We 'die daily' to ourselves and 'have crucified the flesh with it's passions and lusts to the cross". Galatians 5:24

Before you go and face this world and your mind gets exposed to it's filth, go and face His word, get up a little sooner (ask God to help you) and spend time in prayer and the word before you head out in a spiritually hostile world. We are in a spiritual war and you will face temptation daily, even in the safety of your home, so be prepared before you start the day, start it with Jesus in His word to guard your mind and you'll be off to a good start.

You need a helmet to protect your head from injury, so what is your spiritual helmet?.....

Ephesians 6:10-18King James Version (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

So we suit up in His armor and we pray up.

God's word, the remedy to keeping your mind unpolluted from this world:

Psalm 119:9-16

9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
all the rules[a] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Philippians 4:8

"8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Don't just leave your mind empty, fill it with Godly wholesome thoughts,think about God's goodness and all He's done. Your mind craves to think, and you can't just leave it empty or neutral, so don't fill it with evil thoughts. When tempted by bad thoughts, fill it with scripture, rebuke Satan as Jesus did, with scripture, such as "abstain from sexual immorality..." etc. 'Therefore submit to God (first part, crucial, but rarely mentioned when this verse is brought up). Resist the devil (second part) and he will flee from you." James 4:7

If we love God, we will keep His commands -John 14:15, the bible says 'love thinks no evil' 1 Corinthians 13:5, so ask yourself if you are loving Him with all your mind? Confess to Him what areas you have failed to love Him in with your thought life and repent. Identify the sources of what causes you to stumble in your thought life, a movie,game,book,website,friend, etc and guard yourself from it (or even rid yourself of it) so that you are truly walking in repentance and protecting yourself from future harm.

I even had to give up certain news sites that seemed innocent, because their ads were very unGodly and unavoidable and were gateways to sin. So even seemingly innocent things may be a threat to a sound,sober, and single mind in Christ. Evaluate honestly all threats and pray on how to handle each one and guard yourself in His word.

Word in Closing:

Why is it important to have a sound spiritual mind? It is life and peace, there is no peace or life with a double or worldly mind:

5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity (actively opposed/hostile to) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Pray what David prayed sincerely -Psalm 139:23-24,

"23Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting."