“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” (I John 2:14)

As Christians, we are to follow Christ’s example (I Peter 2:21). Like Him, we seek God’s will (John 6:38), which requires replacing our thoughts with His thoughts. We understand this vital transformation into Christ’s image (II Corinthians 3:18) as the process of overcoming.

In Revelation, Jesus urges each church to prevail in this struggle to overcome so it can receive its promised reward (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). Only those who overcome will inherit all things and become part of God’s Family (Revelation 21:7), assured that their names will not be blotted out from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).

Overcoming is a spiritual life-and-death war but won only after many daily battles. Proverbs 24:16 reminds us, “Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up. It is the wicked who are defeated by their troubles” (Easy-to-Read Version). Even the righteous fall, get beaten up, and lose battles. What separates them from the wicked is that they get up again and again and move forward. They might have to limp or crawl forward, but they move forward, unrelenting, because they are committed to winning the war.

As Revelation 21:7 makes clear, only those who win the war—overcome—will receive the promised rewards.

The Obstacle

If overcoming is so crucial, what stands in our way? For the answer, look in any mirror: “Crooked is the heart above all things, and it is incurable—who doth know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, Young’s Literal Translation).

When the Bible speaks about our heart, it means the center, the core, of who we are. It includes the mind, feelings, choices, morals, and spiritual life. All these aspects work together to produce our thoughts, reflect our hearts, and tell God who we are. It is our hearts and thoughts that God examines to make His judgment about our future (Jeremiah 17:10). But our hearts, by themselves, are incurably inclined toward sin, making it impossible for us to overcome on our own. However, Christ’s victory over temptation shows us the path to success.

Do we truly believe Jeremiah when he says our hearts are crooked and incurable? Our hearts prefer to resist this truth, persuading us that we are not that bad. But God knows our every thought (I Chronicles 28:9), and each one contributes to the polluted cesspool that is the human heart. Some sins are buried so deeply in the muck that they are a secret even from us (Psalm 19:12)! Because God examines our thoughts every moment (Job 7:18), we should consider the nature of our thoughts and motives and question whether they align with God’s will.

Focusing on our thoughts is critical. Sin is not just about what we do—more importantly, it is about what we think. Examining our thoughts is central to understanding and overcoming sin. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

In his commentary on Matthew 5:27-28 (enduringword.com), David Guzik offers this explanation:

Since Jesus considers adultery in the heart a sin, we know what we think about and allow our heart to rest on is based on choice. Many believe they have no choice—and therefore no responsibility—for what they think about, but this contradicts the clear teaching of Jesus here. We may not be able to control passing thoughts or feelings, but we certainly do decide where our heart and mind will rest. . . . All sin, not the least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. (Author’s original emphasis.)

Yes, all sin begins with our thoughts. As Mr. Guzik notes, the thoughts that should concern us most are those “where our heart and mind will rest,” lingering to gratify the darker side of our human nature. John Ritenbaugh, in his article “The Tenth Commandment (1998)” (Forerunner, January 1998), adds about Matthew 5:28:

Nowhere is the inward aim of Christ’s teaching so evident as in this comment. A change must first take place in the thoughts if conduct is going to be changed. The real problem with sin resides inside the mind.

By identifying the real problem with sin, he highlights where we must focus our efforts to overcome sin and become like Christ. Our thoughts drive our lives, determining what we believe, feel, decide, and do. This fact agrees with Proverbs 4:23:

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (NKJV)

Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life. (Easy-to-Read Version)

Isaiah 14:24 informs us that God’s thoughts shape His plans: “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass.” Given that God made us in His image (Genesis 1:26), like Him but on a much smaller scale, our thoughts shape our future, too. To become like Christ (I John 3:2), we must learn to align our thoughts with God just as Christ did. This effort to transform our minds to think and act according to God’s will is key to overcoming.

Our current heart and thoughts are the battleground where overcoming must occur. Richard Ritenbaugh made this point in his sermon “Is God in All Our Thoughts?” given on March 8, 2003:

We live in physical bodies. We have physical lives. We have our physical problems. That’s true. But, the battle we wage is not physical at all! The battle is fought in the realm of belief, ideas, philosophies, teachings, words, principles, and laws. To sum it up, you could say, “We fight the battle in our minds.”

That is where it is—in our minds. Or as the Bible often says—within our hearts, our emotions, our personalities, our developing character.

Why is that where the battle lies?

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

As a man thinks (what goes through his mind, what he allows himself to do, all those decisions that he makes), so is he.

Measuring Success

Proverbs 23:7 underscores the importance of mastering our thoughts as a measure of our spiritual success. Our control over our thoughts tells us whether we are overcoming sin or being conquered by it and remaining its slave (John 8:34).

One way to measure our success at controlling our thoughts and adopting the mind of Christ is by how we handle temptations. Some Bible versions render the word “temptation” as “test,” which may be a more accurate way to view it. Like a test in school, a temptation measures how well we have mastered the subject of overcoming.

We often hear about temptations coming from Satan and the world. But they only appeal to the evil already lurking in our hearts. Temptation starts in our thoughts (James 1:14), and that is where we must conquer it.

As an example, in Christ’s temptation (test) by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13), the Devil appealed to common weaknesses found in the human heart and nature:

1. Physical Needs and Desires: Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread after a forty-day fast (Matthew 4:3). This temptation appealed to His physical hunger and the legitimate need for sustenance.

2. Pride and Self-Preservation: The second temptation challenged Jesus to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the Temple to prove His divine sonship (Matthew 4:6). This aimed to provoke pride and self-assertion, using His identity for a spectacular display.

3. Power and Ambition: The third temptation offered Jesus all the world’s kingdoms in exchange for worshipping Satan (Matthew 4:9). This directly appealed to worldly power and ambition, bypassing the suffering and sacrifice required in His mission.

Satan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness offers us valuable insight into overcoming temptation. Our Savior showed us how to do it! By examining how Jesus responded, we can develop a practical strategy and spiritual discipline for our battles against temptation.

Christ’s Response

In every temptation from Satan, Jesus responded automatically and immediately with Scripture. The lesson He teaches us is that to combat temptation effectively, we must know and internalize the Word of God, allowing it to guide our thoughts, actions, and responses. His example highlights the value of being so well-acquainted with Scripture that it naturally guides our reactions, whatever the situation. It is top of mind.

To imitate Jesus, we must have these verses implanted, committed to memory (James 1:21)—so familiar with them that we can use them at a moment’s notice in every aspect of life. Just as Psalm 119:11 (English Standard Version) reads: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

In his July 13, 2024, sermon, “Our Battle Against Evil Programming!” Martin Collins emphasized, “Now, we must make God’s way of life our first nature. It must be internalized, and it must be our automatic reaction to any situation.”

This is what Christ did in response to Satan. He automatically had the right verses on the tip of His tongue. But how did He do this? He was human, just as we are. How do we, as humans, do it and imitate Christ?

To begin to answer that, we must realize what Satan did not: Christ had already won before Satan showed up. Because Christ knows that sin begins with our thoughts (Matthew 5:28), throughout His life, He brought “every thought into captivity to the obedience of [God]” (II Corinthians 10:5).” Yes, every thought. Like Him, we must learn how to overcome our thoughts.

Overcoming Every Thought

But how can we begin to do this? In his June 16, 2024, sermon, “Firstfruits to God,” Richard Ritenbaugh lists six traits God uses to describe firstfruits. In his comments on II Peter 1:2-4, he explains how we can overcome temptation:

What it is telling us here is that if we endure to the end, we are going to be enduring in a way that will make us a lot more like Christ than anybody else in time. It is because we are doing this now and He did it now. You understand, we are overcoming the things of this world in a time when it is hardest to do so in all of time. So these people overcome, that is us, the firstfruits, overcome more intense temptation and sin in the same manner that Jesus Christ did. That is why they know Him better than anybody else. They have shared experiences with Him more than anybody else. (Emphasis ours.)

God expects His firstfruits to imitate Christ, especially in overcoming intense temptation, in the same manner as He did.

Consider that, for Christ’s thirty-three-and-a-half years of life, He did not sin (I Peter 2:22). His every thought, His every moment, was in line with God’s will (John 5:30). I John 2:6 urges us to follow His steps:

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (NKJV)

If we say that we are living in God’s true way, then we must live in the way that Jesus lived. (EasyEnglish Bible)

Jesus mastered His mind, aligning every thought with His Father’s will (Hebrews 10:7). To follow Him, we must work to do the same. Will we strive to take every thought captive to conquer temptation? Christ’s battle with Satan showed that conquering temptation is the fruit of a life spent mastering one’s thoughts.

The Method

So, how did Christ master every thought, and how can we follow His example? He gave us the way to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5): He used verses from the Bible to counter Satan’s every attack. He replaced the thoughts Satan projected with God’s Words. It is that simple: Replace the wrong thoughts with God’s right thoughts. It is simple to state but hard to do.

For example, consider thoughts like fear, worry, and anxiety and what they could be replaced with if we truly believe God can be trusted (Mark 9:23):

Fear: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Worry: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Mathew 6:33-34)

Anxiety: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Replacing these thoughts with Scripture is not a one-time action but a disciplined practice. The apostle Paul often uses athletic metaphors (I Corinthians 9:24-27; II Timothy 2:5; 4:7-8; Hebrews 12:1-2) to describe our journey of overcoming. Just as top athletes practice regularly, so must we as spiritual athletes if we are to win our prize (Philippians 3:14).

The process is straightforward:

1. Pick a thought that needs conquering.

2. Find a scripture that counters it, just as Christ did.

3. Memorize the verse.

4. Then comes the actual practice: Whenever that thought arises, make it a habit to repeat the memorized verse immediately.

5. Then, ask God for strength and belief, and briefly talk to Him, focusing on the wisdom of His ways to help burn it into your being and make it a habit until it becomes instinctive—your first nature.

By consistently applying this method, we can gradually train our minds to reflect God’s will in our thoughts automatically. We are imitating Christ by filling our minds with God’s thoughts. By repetition, our response becomes internalized and instinctive whenever that thought appears. And like Christ, if ever tested, we would pass because we have already won the battle in our mind.

For strategies and tactics to consider when embarking on a memorization project, see my article, “Unsheathe Your Sword! (Part Two).”

None of Our Thoughts

Controlling our thoughts is not just about overcoming sin; it is also about ensuring God is present in every aspect of our lives. David writes in Psalm 10:4, “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” In Richard Ritenbaugh’s aforementioned sermon, “Is God in All Our Thoughts?” he observes:

What we have here in Psalm 10:4 is a similar way of looking at this subject. In a sense, for those who sin—anybody who sins—God is not in their thoughts. If God were in their thoughts, they wouldn’t sin!

He ends the sermon with a question we should ask ourselves, “Is God in all my thoughts?”

What would Christ’s answer be to that question? After all, He is our Example, the One we are to follow and whose mind we are working to mirror. Consider that for every part of our day, when God is not in our thoughts, we imitate the wicked, not Jesus Christ. That is a sobering thought. It should drive us to fill our minds with more of God’s truth and words so that His thoughts, not ours, become the foundation for our every thought, decision, word, and action.

The undefiled walk in the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:1), striving to have every step of their walk governed by God’s law. How can we do this if His words are not implanted in our memory (James 1:21), living in us, guiding our every step? In I John 2:14, the apostle John commends the young men among those to whom he wrote, “The word of God lives in you, and you have defeated the Evil One” (Easy-to-Read Version).

There is a daily tool we can use to identify areas where God is absent from our thoughts, target specific thoughts, and monitor our progress in bringing them into captivity. For more on this tool to aid daily overcoming, please see Bill Onisick’s “Daily Overcoming” sermonette (January 11, 2020).

To conquer temptation and enter God’s Family, we must win the battle in our minds. To do so requires mastering our thoughts and aligning them with God’s will, just as Christ did. To live “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), to face any situation as Christ did, we need those words readily available. It is possible when we have implanted His Word in our minds, hearts, and memories.

God expects His firstfruits to follow His Son’s example, walking as He walked and handling life’s challenges as He did. The question remains: Will we?