You have an enemy and he wants nothing good for you. Even if our circumstances are good, we may not be experiencing good in our mind. Our mind is a battlefield where the enemy seeks to draw our focus away from the safety we have in Christ and instead stir within us unrest because a skewed perspective.

Isaiah 26:3 says “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” If the enemy can turn your mind away from trusting God, he can limit the power and peace you receive from God. Don’t let the enemy win! Fight for peace by winning the battle for where your mind is focused.

Here are six ways to fight the spiritual battle in your mind:

1. Understand the nature of the battle. The first step in winning any battle is to understand the nature of the battle. In the case of the spiritual battle, we are up against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). These forces are at work in the world, and they are also at work in our own hearts and minds.

2. Put on the armor of God. In order to stand firm against these spiritual forces, put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It may sound strange to “put on” something that is spiritual but these are tools God offers. Work through each one–reject untruths (the enemy is a master deceiver), pursue righteousness, trust God is at work even if you don’t understand or see it, don’t forget the good news of what Jesus did for you on the cross, get in God’s word and ask the Spirit to speak to you and through you.

3. Pray in the Spirit. Another important part of standing firm in this battle is to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). This means that we should pray continually, with all kinds of prayers and requests, and that we should be alert and watchful in our prayer lives. Whatever you think about, you can pray about. There is nothing too trivial or unsavory for God. He wants you to talk to Him.

4. Be aware of Satan’s schemes. We also need to be aware of Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). Satan is a deceiver, and he will try to deceive us through false teaching, half-truths, and even outright lies. We need to be on our guard against his attacks and be ready to refute them with the truth. It can sound good but that doesn’t make it true. Hold it up against the truth of God’s Word to determine validity.

5. Stand firm in your faith. Ultimately, we need to stand firm in our faith (1 Corinthians 16:13). This means being rooted and established in our faith, so that we can withstand any attack that comes our way. If you find yourself facing spiritual resistance, yield to God. Articulate your willingness to be an active participant in what He is doing–cause I promise you He is doing something! Willingness to participate in what God is doing communicates a trust that will lead to living with boldness even when it is unpopular or difficult.

6. Remember that you are not alone. It is easy to read the words “you are not alone” and still feel alone. Faith is not just a feeling. It is believing God’s presence resides in you through His Spirit and that He will guide you. But you have to yield your will to His. God is with you. Breathe that in and receive everything that means. Don’t yield to panic or fear. Yield to God’s presence and the peace that comes from a mind steadfast on Him.