Cynthia Ousley-Garey - The Mind Is a Battlefield: Break Free from the Shackles

The Mind Is
a Battlefield

Break Free from the Shackles

Cynthia Ousley-Garey

THE MIND IS A BATTLEFIELD

BREAK FREE FROM THE SHACKLES

Copyright 2018 Cynthia Ousley-Garey.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-4929-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4928-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018905473

iUniverse rev. date: 05/03/2018

Contents

To the one I consider faithful. Thank You, Lord, for remaining with me when everyone else seemed far away. My life is in Your hands.

Ephesians 6:12 says, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Before you begin to read this book, I want to share something very deep that many may not understand. I am very pleased to write this book because I have experienced a place that is so dark and real that it literally had me scared to go to sleep. Why? I didnt understand what was going on. My physical body was sleeping, but my spirit was still alive in the spiritual realm. I noticed my body being touched from this world and how I could see a dark shadow in the form of a human body. I noticed not being able to cross over into the physical realm because I felt stuck and trapped. Over in the spiritual realm, I noticed I would call on Jesus, and this was when I was able to break free from that spiritual realm.

One incident I experienced recently was when another hand was holding my hand, as if it were coming from the spiritual world of good. Likewise, I knew the person who was holding my hand was not the spirit of the Lord. I had many more encounters and still have these encounters today. However, I understand now what is going on and why. We are fighting against not flesh and blood but spiritual warfare.

In 2017, I wrote my first edition, Overcoming Obstacles in Your Walk with God . As you face many problems, know that you are not alone. God works in many ways to show us He will never leave or forsake us. By trusting His plan, He will confer His power onto us.

Many times we do not understand why we face battles in life. But if we dont go through anything, how can we be testimonies for others? How can we transform and inspire others, telling them they can make it? If we dont learn how to defeat the struggles in our own lives, how can transformation run its course inside of us? The fire may be lit and burning in your life, but until you put out the fire, it will keep on burning. It will reduce you down to ashes. But the devil is a liar, right? You will be not destroyed but healed. You will not be powerless; you will walk in power.

This is my second edition I am presenting to you. God has given me the strength and courage to break free. The mind is a terrible thing to waste. When confusion, negativity, doubt, and disappointment creep in, you get frustrated and angry. Although each war you go through is different, dont get discouraged. Life is all about challenges. And since life is all about trials, at times we are going to experience forces of darkness in our lives. You may not understand them all, but these experiences can work for your good. What is seen is only temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Mind Is a Battlefield seemed the most difficult to write about. Sometimes its not easy to explain all the hardships you have gone through in life, but the deeper you grow in Christ, the more you find yourself working for His kingdom. Gods kingdom shall be our priority. I have learned that if I put Him first, everything else will fall into place.

But putting God first doesnt mean you forget about other priorities He has given you. It simply means you are submitting to His will and not yours. RememberGods will is far greater than what we can ever imagine.

Have you ever imagined being stuck on a dark, lonely road with no cars, streetlights, or people moving about? Your first thought would be, I am scared and cant see anything . Just as quickly as that thought comes into your mind, imagine how quickly God can break off every shackle that binds you when your mind is in a war.

Spiritual battles teach us how to discipline ourselves and become aware of the dark forces that are seen and unseen. If we never go through phases of darkness, how can we see brighter futures? No matter what hardship you are undergoing, God is the only one who can raise you up or bring you down. He is with you, and His Word will never fail you. Moses had to summon Joseph at the site of Israel to be strong and courageous in the battle he had to face while crossing the Jordan River. Just like God was with Joseph, He will be with you.

Battles come in stages when we least expect them. One day is full of pleasure; the next day is full of dimness. As you read this book, dont look at spiritual battles in a way of God punishing you, but observe them and believe He is opening doors for you. Through your spiritual battles, you may feel powerless, but keep pushing and striving, and continue to move forward in Jesuss name by trusting every word that He has spoken over your life. Amen! This will give you the aptitude to look beyond the dark forces you are facing in the physical realm, giving you an opportunity to see what is coming at you in the spiritual realm.

Take a moment and visualize the things you are already battling with. Because you know and realize what the outcome is going to be, what you have just envisioned has not shackled your mind. For example, when I get up at five in the morning, my mind goes to battle because its too soon to be waking up.

I am saying to myself, I dont feel like working. I just want to sleep. I am tossing and turning. I am being lazy. I am pulling the covers over my head and face. But since I know what the outcome is going to be, that battle leaves my mind, and it no longer has control over me. But as soon as something unexpected comes your way, your mind goes into war, trying its best to keep you bound. Now your mind has become a prisoner of the expectancies in your life. It is ready to abuse you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Dark forces may drive you to make mistakes in life, sometimes consequences you will regret for the rest of your life. Other times you are not aware of the things that are going on in the world or your life, because you expect God to give you everything you like, need, and want. However, He gives us things that will hurt, leave, and break us to show us the people we are supposed to be. In the process, He is perfecting us for greatness.

So dont give up on your dreams. Stay focused and keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. In this world, troubles are going to come, but be of good cheer because God has overcome the world. Let nothing you face in life separate you from the love of God.