OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD
The Bible says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Overcome wrong thoughts, places, habits, and friends by having new thoughts, places, habits, and friends that will encourage you to do good. If someone was a thief, he is to work with the hands he stole with and give to others in need (Ephesians 4:28); overcome evil with good.
Just trying to stop sinning, or anything one wants to overcome, is a losing battle. If someone is having a battle with his thought life or temptation, he will not win it by simply trying to stop those thoughts, but by overcoming those thoughts by thinking about good things. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8–9).
Read the Bible; it will cleanse you. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3; see also John 17:17). If one thinks about something funny he will laugh, or something sad, he will be sad or even cry, and if it’s something upsetting, he will become angry; but if the same person thinks upon the Word of God, he will have great victory in his thought life and even in his life. If you cannot control your thought life then read large portions of the Bible every day, ten pages a day would not be too much, and out loud if necessary.
The Scriptures teaches us to count our blessings, not to gloat in them but to remember who gave them to us. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). If one will count his or her blessings, he will end up being happier, and hopefully thankful to God Who gave them. Write out on paper all your blessings.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7–8).
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1–3).
Both of the above verses say, “meditate therein day and night” in the Word of God. This can be done by reading large passages daily. And memorization can also help.
But someone will say, “I can’t memorize.” Yes you can. We have all memorized songs and phone numbers and even addresses; now memorize verses and even whole chapters and then start doing what they say. There have been people who have rebuilt their thought lives by going over verses in their minds while they were in traffic or lying on their bed before they went to sleep. In fact, if someone has insomnia, I recommend that he meditate on what the Bible says while he lies in bed, and the next thing he knows, it is morning. (Note: There are certain issues, such as kleptomania, phobias, psychological disorders, or mental illness, that if someone has, then he or she should seek professional help. But what I am giving here is practical help for everyday problems.)
The Bible says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Overcome wrong thoughts, places, habits, and friends by having new thoughts, places, habits, and friends that will encourage you to do good. If someone was a thief, he is to work with the hands he stole with and give to others in need (Ephesians 4:28); overcome evil with good.
Just trying to stop sinning, or anything one wants to overcome, is a losing battle. If someone is having a battle with his thought life or temptation, he will not win it by simply trying to stop those thoughts, but by overcoming those thoughts by thinking about good things. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8–9).
Read the Bible; it will cleanse you. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3; see also John 17:17). If one thinks about something funny he will laugh, or something sad, he will be sad or even cry, and if it’s something upsetting, he will become angry; but if the same person thinks upon the Word of God, he will have great victory in his thought life and even in his life. If you cannot control your thought life then read large portions of the Bible every day, ten pages a day would not be too much, and out loud if necessary.
The Scriptures teaches us to count our blessings, not to gloat in them but to remember who gave them to us. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). If one will count his or her blessings, he will end up being happier, and hopefully thankful to God Who gave them. Write out on paper all your blessings.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7–8).
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1–3).
Both of the above verses say, “meditate therein day and night” in the Word of God. This can be done by reading large passages daily. And memorization can also help.
But someone will say, “I can’t memorize.” Yes you can. We have all memorized songs and phone numbers and even addresses; now memorize verses and even whole chapters and then start doing what they say. There have been people who have rebuilt their thought lives by going over verses in their minds while they were in traffic or lying on their bed before they went to sleep. In fact, if someone has insomnia, I recommend that he meditate on what the Bible says while he lies in bed, and the next thing he knows, it is morning. (Note: There are certain issues, such as kleptomania, phobias, psychological disorders, or mental illness, that if someone has, then he or she should seek professional help. But what I am giving here is practical help for everyday problems.)