Hey everybody, I’m Anne-Marie Michaelis, a Christian author and coach. Welcome to the Hidden Battles Podcast, a weekly podcast about the hidden battles of spiritual warfare and the struggles that go on in our minds and hearts, and the truth to overcoming these hidden battles. My life was radically transformed during a supernatural encounter with Jesus.

God allowed my eyes to be spiritually opened long enough to see the truth of these hidden battles and to scare the rebellion against him right out of me. In each episode, I share a true story about a real life experience, a teaching, and a final takeaway. This podcast will reveal the hidden battles that lurk in our minds and hearts, and the way out.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Please take a moment to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to my channel on YouTube, at GodDesign LLC. Podcasts are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For a free download of my memoir, visit my website at goddesign.org.

In this episode called “It Starts With A Thought”, I’ll share where the AHA moment came that took me on the path toward Jesus, so I could experience a “seeing” and “understanding” that I wasn’t getting from any worldly teachings.  I’ll explore with you what science says about thoughts alongside what God says in His Word.  Basically, we’ll do a compare and contrast. I’ll reveal one of the massive gaps in science, but that God talks about extensively in His Word.  Then end with reflections. 

Romans 7:21-23 in the NLT says this “I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.”

For most of my life, I was under the belief that this was “Just Me.” All my troubles were created and generated by me and only me.  I went to numerous secular therapists to no avail.  I read and owned every best-selling “self-help” book on the market (including audio versions so I could immerse myself 24/7 in the teachings).  I was even one class away from graduating from the local university with a psychology degree before quitting.  Nothing was helping. Not permanently.  About twenty years went by stuck in this same stalemate.

God set a hook and then led me first towards understanding the science of my thoughts. Why science first?  I don’t know.  Maybe He knew that’s how my brain was currently wired.  Maybe He knew I would see the dead-end.  Maybe He knew I’d appreciate that science never has been able to refute God’s Word but only prove it to be true as more is discovered.

So the year prior to my encounter with Jesus, I started learning about brain science, neuroscience, and details on “thoughts” from a scientific perspective to help make sense of my thinking from a deeper level.

Now when my hunger for answers was still unmet and I saw the gaps, God continued to drop a breadcrumb trail for me, leading me to the beginning of learning about freedom. A christian author that had written about spiritual warfare and what God’s Word says about it. I learned that Satan and demons can plant thoughts inside a persons mind and heart.  I went in baby steps, taking it all in and analyzing everything in great detail.  God is so good.  He “gets” each and every one of else.  My baby steps may be different then yours. But God can make your path straight, each and every time if you pay attention, are not afraid to step, and keep an open mind to what He is whispering to you.

My first AHA moment came once I realized that my troubles were me (my thoughts, mindsets, beliefs) AND spiritual warfare, my entire perspective and reality changed.  For me, it wasn’t “Just Me.” I was battling learned mindsets (from what was in me for forty years) and the demonic trying to keep me in the dark, believing all the lies I spent my entire life believing.

So, back then I figured if the battle is going on in my mind and heart with my thoughts, then I should learn about “thoughts” first. That’s why this episode is called “It Starts With A Thought.”

Let’s look at thoughts in a little more detail.  Thoughts, beliefs, mindsets, OH MY!

Did you know that on average we have 50,000 thoughts per day!  Yikes!  Did you realize that what happens in our minds with our thought patterns create various chemical responses and feelings (basically our emotions)? Yikes! This thought cycle which includes a chemical release and emotional feeling impacts our complete well-being (mind, body, and spirit). Again, Yikes! It can create addictive behavior patterns as well.  Double Yikes! Plus, an Aha!

So what are beliefs? Well they are built by consistent thinking patterns and may not be based on the truth! Some of us have beliefs that are not even based on the truth for most of our lives. We are basically living in a lie. A lie about our identity, our purpose, and every single thing in between.

Taking thoughts and patterns of thoughts (or beliefs) a little further, let’s look at mindsets.  Mindsets are a way of thinking.  Your mindset is a set of beliefs.  It ultimately determines how you present yourself in a situation or, put another way your attitude.  But it all starts with a thought.

What “patterns” do you have going on that may not be healthy for you?  (addictive patterns, negative thinking, compulsive worry or stress, something else)?

Now earlier I mentioned that I had learned that Satan can plant thoughts in our mind AND heart.  Many people have said, the heart doesn’t have “thoughts.” Well, for those that relish learning about science.  I’m here to share with you, yes, it does!

What does science say about the heart?  Thoughts are not only coming from the brain.  Did you know they are also coming from the heart?  Did you know the heart is much more than an organ that pumps blood?  Scientific studies by the HeartMath Institute show that the heart is an information processing center. It sends powerful healing commands to the brain and body.  Scientific studies say it is a source of wisdom, higher intelligence, and a connection between the physical and spiritual heart. It provides an access point for what science calls intuitive guidance or higher power.  The heart is considered the global coordinator of our inner self.  Studies show that the heart communicates inside the body through nerve impulses, pressure waves, hormones, and neurotransmitters.  Did you know it communicates outside the body through electromagnetic fields and can impact others?  Scientific studies say the core heart feelings are love, appreciation, and care, and when we focus on these feelings, there is an immediate shift in our heart rhythms, and the type of hormones released.

So, with science we have BODY which is “world conscious” (body senses to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste … body systems and organs which include the brain).  We have MIND which is “self-conscious” and includes mindsets, conscious reasoning, beliefs, emotions, attitude, choices.  We now have the HEART which is now called the access point or source of intuitive guidance (whatever they mean by that is up for interpretation). 

Do you see that something is missing?

Science has no explanation on the “spiritual heart” OR “higher intelligence” and just says that there must be a spiritual heart and intelligence. So, I guess we can just put a pin in it and wait till science figures it all out (possibly someday in our lifetime- or not). Or, we can go to our Creator, Inventor, and Manufacturer – God (THE highest intelligence) and ask Him about the spiritual heart.  Seems like a no brainer to me.

So let’s do that.

Let’s look at what God says about the heart and mind.  Did you know that the heart is mentioned 830 times in the Bible?  The heart is equated to the mind and emotions.  There are references to thoughts coming from it. 

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

Proverbs 4:4 (NLT) Take my words to heart.  Follow my commands, and you will live.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.

There is reference in a parable taught by Jesus that Satan will steal the Word of God’s truth from someone’s heart.

Matthew 13:19 (AMP) When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

Now that we understand that thoughts are not only in the mind but also in the heart, and that the battlefield for these hidden battles is IN the mind and heart, there are three super basic things that are important to know about spiritual warfare. 

The first thing to know, is that Jesus came to deliver us from the darkness and evil forces of Satan’s army.

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV) He (God the Father) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Jesus), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The second thing to know, is that Jesus came to save us from the penalty for our sins (which is death).  We’re all sinners, and by default not in right standing with God. Jesus came to save us sinners when we put our trust in Him alone. To restore our right standing with God the Father, thereby saving us from eternal death.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The third thing to know, is that Satan is the “god” of this world looking for someone to devour and destroy, therefore we need to constantly be renewing our mind, because the battlefield is in our minds and hearts, and there’s only one way to be sure you’re renewing on the truth and not more lies from the world.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

What does this mean?  It means that when unhealthy thoughts come up (addictive thoughts, sinful thoughts, thoughts that make us feel unworthy, or other such similar thoughts), take that thought captive and check what God’s Word says.

For example, I’m too old and have no more purpose left.  Take that thought and check what God’s Word says.  In this example.  God says …

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.  For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.  They flourish in the courts of our God.  Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.  Psalm 92:12-14

God’s Word says something completely opposite than the lie you are believing in your mind.  You can choose to continue to believe the lie, or start to believe what God’s Word says about you.

I call this flipping the script.  The world, Satan, others, and even our own selves can be our worst enemy and keep us living a lie.  Flipping the script on that lie based on God’s Word which is truth will break down false belief systems and unhealthy thoughts. This insures you’re not replacing a lie with another lie.  Why the heck would you want to do that – right?

Now God’s word tells us much more, but this is a good start!  But remember this … there is the absolute truth that is found in God’s Word and there are partial truths and straight up lies. A partial truth isn’t truth. It’s a well thought out lie that is masked by pulling in some “pieces” of the truth.  It’s a better lie.  A sneaky and crafty lie that can sometimes slip in unnoticed.  But nonetheless it’s still a lie.  Satan is the father of all lies and we are told he is crafty and does things typically in stealth mode. He can appear like an angel of light. But he’s not.  So we need to be in relationship with Jesus and we need to know the enemy so we’re not blind sided.

If we don’t know the truth of our identity and purpose based on what God says, than we’re missing the life that God designed specifically for us!

Now for some reflections.

I’ve touched on science in this podcast episode because we live in a “body” (flesh) and need to understand it to some degree so that it doesn’t control us (and we should be taking care of it as well)!  But we are spiritual beings in this fleshly body and must also ensure we feed our spirit the right “food” (not spiritual fast food, spiritual food with preservatives, or spiritual GMO food from the world’s view). But instead genuine (organic and natural) spiritual food based on the Word of God and what He says we need to experience abundance according to God’s Design for us!  Doesn’t it make sense to ask the creator, inventor, and manufacturer of the “thing” invented, on how that “thing” should work? That “thing” being US and all things around US!

God’s word says in Matthew 4:4 in the Amplified Translation, “But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

His Word is in the Bible – and Jesus makes it extremely clear that God’s Word is as important to us as eating (nutrition, enjoyment, and satisfaction) and life.  We cannot live on bread alone.

As we close, I’d like to ask multiple reflection questions for you to ask yourselves over the course of this week.  How many of you personally have experienced or perhaps you know of someone that has experienced going in and out of traditional (secular) therapy for years?  We’re mind, body, and spirit.  What if your struggles are not biologically or psychologically driven?  What if they are spiritually driven?  We cannot psychoanalyze demonic oppression.  We cannot medicate ourselves out of spiritual warfare.  So, I ask … How are you caring for your spirit?

What have you built your belief systems around, man’s teachings or God’s Word?  How many of your thoughts are slipping by “unchecked” and how many are truly your own?  What if a majority of your thoughts are not even yours and you just don’t know it?  Lastly, what would you life look like if you believed God’s truths and not the enemies lies?

Hey, friends, that wraps up today’s Hidden Battles Podcast. A transcript along with additional devotionals for this week’s podcast, as well as my memoir, are available for free download on my website at goddesign.org, or check out some of my other books that you may find helpful. If you liked this episode, please share with others.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Never stop praying, never give up, and I’ll see you next week.