Steve Lyston | Where the mind goes, the man follows

Philippians 4: 8 reminds us: "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 praiseworthymeditate on these things."

There are so many things that come against our minds on a daily basis to hinder us from remaining pure, positive and prosperous. The battles always begin in our minds. We have to mentally fight false doctrines, lies, demonic views, fear and even idols that have been established within the mind.

Our minds determine our feelings, affect our health, gathers information, and decide what to believe as a result of repetition. A person cannot improve their mental capabilities until they have a pure and healthy mind. It is therefore critical for us to renew our minds on a daily basis; and that can only come about through prayer and meditating on God's word. Many of us have been taught some negative things over the years that we thought were true and so became the norm. But the onus would now be on us to identify and keep the truth. Joshua 1: 8 reminds us, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Surprisingly, a story published recently in The Gleaner of a high school that carries the name of the Trinity, was bragging of the success of new age philosophy they embraced and implemented. It is not just that they were employing a programme, but that the very root of the principles it employed goes against the Word that they stand on as a church-based school. The after effects on those young minds, in the long run, will be detrimental and may even require 'exorcism'.

In the same way, we cannot win a war against poverty unless the transformation takes place within the mind. A garrison is a state of the mind. If you move persons in a garrison out of that area and put them in a different (non-garrison) area, they will still function in the same way, unless the mind is renewed. This is why they can use trained people to divide them all the time; because all you need is a trained writer, an excellent psychologist and a good orator or university professor with the same way of thinking.

A mind which is not renewed is unable to discern right from wrong, good from bad, or identify the perfect will of God - not for themselves or for the nation. Our nation has been out of God's will for many years, but we still think we are okay. While the lives of the people become worse, others benefit from that.

A messed-up mind becomes blind and is pulled away by every wind of doctrine. Some of the things that seem normal become life-threatening for other people. Sadly, we have allowed some of the Hollywood stars and music moguls to mess up our minds and the minds of our children. Even the video games have played their roles in messing up the minds of our future leaders. There are even some deep things that have been embedded in our culture which are plain and simply witchcraft, but we have been convinced that to let it go and reject it is to reject a part of ourselves. Not so.

God wants us to have a healthy mind - one of power, love and soundness. Fear is one of the biggest hindrances to us and to our nation. We don't even know who we truly are and in what or whom we believe. We must value and protect our mind, emotions and will.

We must recognise that people in our nation have reached a boiling point because of lies, false doctrines, injustices and manipulation, and it is only a matter of time before everything boils over into pockets of civil disturbances. We can't continue to pass laws, blame the police and not recognise that if the root is not addressed in the right way, then we are in for an implosion. The mind can either be a powerful tool for positive change or a weapon of destruction. People don't even care anymore what is being spewed out over the airwaves. Morals have broken down, so minds have been defiled and become impure. Remember that whatever we think about and meditate on, is what we act out (Proverbs 23: 7; Romans 7: 23).

- Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.