The Matthew 28:19 Project

I’ve always heard that Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle with Satan, but until recently, I dismissed this idea, thinking it didn’t really apply to me. Over the past few weeks, I’ve realized that the spiritual battle is real and does affect me. Since I had ignored the reality of spiritual warfare for so long, I was losing the fight without even realizing it. Satan had filled my mind with things that weren’t glorifying to God. He was filling my mind with seemingly harmless, easy, and satisfying things at the time.

For example, I used to watch ‘One Life to Live.’ I followed that show from childhood until it was canceled. I wrote stories about the characters and repeatedly watched episodes featuring my favorite character. I even traveled to Orlando, Florida, multiple times to attend Super Soap Weekend. Watching that show and engaging with other fans occupied a lot of space in my mind. It wasn’t just soaps; I also watched many crime and paranormal shows featuring ghosts, witches, and vampires. All the content that the Bible warns us to guard against filled my television screen. Satan is clever because I didn’t see anything wrong with what I was watching or with what I was filling my mind with.

It wasn’t just television that influenced my thoughts. It was also the music I listened to. I used to enjoy country music, attending concerts, and being a true ’90s country girl. I’ve lost count of how many Reba McEntire concerts I’ve attended and even traveled across the United States to see her perform. I listened to a wide range of music, but none of it centered on God. That kind of music didn’t even appeal to me.

I also read novels focused on vampires, witches, ghosts, and other elements of the romance genre. These weren’t your typical clean stories; they were filled with foul language and evil plots. All the things the Bible warns us about were present in these books. I wasn’t reading the Bible or anything that would promote spiritual growth. Instead, I was feeding my mind with worldly influences.

Everything I watched on TV, read in books, and listened to on the radio greatly affected how I lived my daily life and what I prioritized. Nowhere in my life, actions, or mind was God present. But God is sneaky, and He had a plan for me. He worked around me to accomplish His purpose. Gradually, God shifted my focus away from the world and towards Him. Without my noticing, he replaced country concerts with gospel concerts, soap operas with faith-based programs, and trashy novels with the Word of God.

Gradually, piece by piece, my mind began to fill with thoughts of Jesus and His Truth. I no longer wanted to watch those shows, read those books, or listen to that type of music. I have found myself being very selective about what I watch, listen to, and read. The closer I got to God, the more I realized I was in a spiritual battle with Satan.  This became undeniable through recent events and the scriptures I read for my social media ministry, as well as those I studied in Bible study and Sunday school. God was speaking, and I was finally listening.

I found that the most effective way to fight Satan is with God’s truth. Paul instructs us to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14). My mind is the main battleground where Satan wages war. As a master deceiver, he can infiltrate my thoughts and deceive me into believing lies that draw me away from God. The best weapon against Satan’s deception is God’s unchanging truth. Satan will try to distort God’s truth into his own version, but Scripture makes it clear: truth is eternal. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

That’s why filling my mind with Scripture is so crucial. Neglecting God’s Word leaves me vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. I am reminded daily that God’s Word is His truth; it has existed since the beginning, and as John reminds us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). No matter what Satan tries to manipulate or distort, God’s truth remains constant and unchangeable.

If you feel vulnerable to Satan’s attacks, you can start fighting back by replacing the books you read with the Bible, swapping out the music you listen to for gospel music, and choosing faith-based programming over secular shows. Each day, we are called to wear the whole armor of God, beginning with the belt of truth. Protect your mind, anchor yourself in His Word, and stand firm, because living by God’s truth prevents Satan from manipulating your mind with his twisted lies.