Winning the Battle, Part 2: Do You Leave Your Mind Vulnerable?

In Proverbs 6 God describes seven sins He hates, starting at the top of the human body and moving down: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill, a conniving heart, feet that rush into evil, a false witness, and a man who stirs up discord.

In Ephesians 6:12-18, God provides another head-to-toe word picture in the pieces of His armor, a set of practical tools we can use to battle those seven sins: the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, shoes shod with peace, and the belt of truth.

This series explains how you can use each piece of armor daily to learn to resist the seven sins God hates, starting at the top of the human body and moving down.

The Helmet that Protects Your Mind

Starting at the top is the helmet of salvation. Consider two facets of this piece of armor (1) what the helmet does (2) why it is closely associated with salvation.

You’re familiar with a bike helmet, military helmet, construction helmet, and football helmet. Each is strong and fits tightly around your head to protect it.

Likewise, a spiritual helmet is strong.

It is God’s way of protecting the parts of your head, the center of your thoughts:

The helmet protects your mind: what you think and believe, as revealed in your thought life
The helmet protects your eyes: what you think, as revealed in how you look at yourself and others
The helmet protects your tongue: what you think, as revealed in what you say.

Why does your mind – the center of your thoughts – need so much protection? Salvation is God’s gift to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It rescues you from your sin and its consequences. Put another way, salvation delivers you from believing and embracing lies, revealing the truth to your mind.

Connecting the two together, the helmet of salvation serves to protect and rescue your mind – and consequently your eyes and tongue – from the lies of sin and their consequences.

How Do the Eyes and Tongue Get In So Much Trouble?

Haughty eyes are a reflection of pride … those inner thoughts that believe in and rely on your superior accomplishments, abilities, position, possessions, talents, and resources. A lying tongue, on the other hand, is one that deceives, disappoints, or betrays – not just others, but often yourself, too. Your words reveal lies that are disguised as thoughts.

A haughty look and a lying tongue are two separate modes of operation, yet both reveal what you think. Proud looks and deceptive words originate in your mind – as thoughts. They are placed there by the enemy. If you choose to listen to thoughts spoken by the enemy, he can fill your mind with lies and direct your emotions, controlling your point of view and your words.

The helmet of salvation protects what you think.

Put on the Helmet Each Day

Many of us only think of salvation as a one-time event, as in the day we accepted Christ as our Savior. But its ongoing process is one of regeneration.

Ephesians 6:17 says, “Take the helmet of salvation.” The term take means to receive; to accept. When you take the helmet of salvation and place it on your head, you receive and accept God’s protection for your mind – and thus your eyes and tongue.

God knows that the helmet of salvation is a piece of armor that will protect your mind from lies, thereby keeping your eyes and tongue from evil. He offers you the helmet of salvation each day.

But in order to have that protection, you must choose to put it on.

Each day.