"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him" (I Peter 3:13-22).

One of the daily battles we must fight is on the battlefield of the mind. Thoughts that we don't want seem to creep in and invade when we least expect them: "What if this happens?" "How are you going to do that?" And worst of all, "Remember when you did this?" "Remember when you said that?" Bringing up the past is a sly trick of the enemy to weaken the people of God by bringing on anxiety, depression and doubt. Although the Blood of Christ covers all our sins when we ask Him for forgiveness, the enemy of our soul seems to take great delight in reminding us of our shortcomings and our past, sometimes moving us to tears and pleas to God for forgiveness for our great depravity, while God, who has already forgiven and forgotten (Heb. 10:17), is saying "What are you talking about?" In the mean time, the battle that needs our attention goes unfought, because we have been so distracted. Of course, God has provided a strategy for this battle as well.

Isaiah begged for forgiveness for his unworthiness before God, and a seraph came with a coal from the altar to touch his lips and said,"See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sins are atoned for" (Isaiah 6:7); In the same way, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with with pure water" (Heb. 10:22); "How much more then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God,cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God" (Heb. 9:14). I think when we put on the "helmet of salvation," it serves a dual purpose--it not only protects our minds from a direct attack, but also stifles the more subtle voice of the enemy as he whispers in our ears those, "remember whens." 

Going back to the Isaiah passage, remember that Isaiah was ashamed of being a man of "unclean lips," or unclean speech. But after those "lips" were touched by the coal from the altar and cleansed, they became the very parts of Isaiah's anatomy that God armed for battle as He made Isaiah His prophet! The weapons of the enemy were turned against him!

So what is the plan for victory on the battlefield of the mind according to I Peter 3:13-22?

1.  Do not fear

2.  Recognize Christ as Lord of the situation

3.  Be prepared to give the reason for your hope

4.  Choose to do the "good" thing

5.  Trust Jesus to cover your mistakes

Strap on that armor and fight on, Mighty Warrior, and "thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen