“Come on, get your mind right, let’s go,” the quarterback yelled. I can’t forget this command. The team was behind, and the quarterback had no time for them to lose their focus. He was telling his team to forget the last play and focus on getting this play right. The apostle Paul says the same to us in II Corinthians 10:5 “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” and again in Philippians 3:13 when he tells the Philippians “I forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
In these scriptures, God is telling us to forget any past failure or disappointment. Get your mind right and get focused. Our mind is where thoughts of doubt, temptation, regret, anger, jealousy, worry, and fear take hold. No wonder God tells us to protect our heads with the helmet of salvation. So what’s on your head? I could also ask what’s on your mind. Spiritually, they are related. Why? Because helmets protect your head. Your head holds your brain, and your mind resides in your brain. When you safeguard your head, you safeguard your mind.
Helmet of Salvation
In Ephesians 6, the last piece of armor to put on is the Helmet of Salvation. Remembering our salvation is our defense against the enemy of our souls and the father of lies, Satan. He tempts us to question God, just as he tempted Eve in the garden and Jesus in the wilderness. Our enemy can’t take our salvation away, but he can keep us off balance and ineffective by planting seeds of doubt regarding God’s love, forgiveness, and ultimately the gift of salvation.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. How can we love and honor our Heavenly Father if our mind is full of spiritual weeds and garbage?
We could be wearing every other piece of armor, but without the Helmet of Salvation, we are vulnerable to spiritual attack, leaving us feeling helpless and defeated. The helmet protects and preserves our minds.
My mind is always where the trouble begins. I get my feelings hurt, worry, become fearful, start having a well-deserved (so I think) pity party, or make some excuse for focusing on my wants or needs. My attitude is “more attention and appreciation, please.” It’s ridiculous when I look back, but I usually feel I deserve more at the time. Then I hear, “Come on, Dyann, get your mind right, let’s go.” I picture my Heavenly Father gently shaking his head and saying, “Oh little one, there you go again, look up, look at me, see how much I love you, all I have given you. Receive the joy of your salvation. All that I have is yours. Adjust your helmet, dear.”
Getting Our Minds Right
Our brain is considered the most critical organ in our physical body. Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book Switch on Your Brain, states, “Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through your thinking. When we hope, it is an activity of the mind that changes the structure of our brain in a positive and normal direction. The process of thinking and choosing is the most powerful thing in the universe after God, and it is a phenomenal gift from God to be treasured and used properly.” Scripture has been telling us the same thing from the beginning.
God’s word says this about our minds when we get our minds right:
Romans 12:1-2 – When we choose to present our body as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God and not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, we prove what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Philippians 4:6, 7 – When we choose to give our worries to God, through prayer, with thanksgiving, we guard our heart and mind.
II Corinthians 10:5 – When we decide to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we are destroying speculations and lofty things raised against the knowledge of God.
Philippians 4:8 – When we choose to dwell on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, anything that is excellent or praiseworthy we are protecting and redirecting the spiritual nature of our brains.
Each time we make these choices, we are building healthy spiritual brain habits and memory.
“Don’t forget your helmet” is a common warning when someone we love heads out of the house to ride a bike, skateboard, motorcycle, or participate in any other dangerous activity. God says the same thing. “Take up the helmet of salvation, put it on, get your mind right. My helmet will protect you from spiritual brain damage.”
Don’t forget your helmet today. Thank Jesus for his love, salvation, and protection.
Blessings,
“Our mind is a garden, our thoughts are the seeds, you can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds.”
RItu Ghatourey
Personal Parable Prompts
- How can we remember each day to put on our salvation helmet?
- Is there a special verse that encourages you to keep your mind protected?
- Is the Lord prompting you to take a specific step today to renew your mind?
Personal Parables is the blog of Dyann Shepard. Get Dyann’s complementary study in Proverbs and prayer guide, What to Do When You Don’t Feel Good Enough. If you need encouragement to remember the truth about yourself in times of doubt and anxiety, this free 5-day study is for you. Follow Dyann and Personal Parables on Instagram and Facebook. Dyann is available for speaking, guest blogging, and article writing.
Scripture for Meditation
We are invited to put on the Helmet of Salvation each day. Here are some verses to meditate upon after reading my post, What’s On Your Head?
Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Romans 8:6 – For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
II Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
I Corinthians 2:16 – For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But, we have the mind of Christ.
Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.
Music for Reflection
What’s on your head? The question I ask in my blog post, is available here. Listen to some music on that same theme. Enjoy!
