The primary way seeds of fear enter your mind is through one of the "gates" of your senses. Seeds of fear can enter through what you see, hear, feel, or even smell. For example, if you are in a crowded building and you smell smoke, what is your first thought? The devil uses these seeds that enter through the sense gates to make suggestions. In fact, suggestion is one of his most potent weapons. His tactic is to suggest certain words, certain scenarios, and certain possible outcomes - all with the intent of planting a seed of fear. All of this takes place in the form of thoughts.
The first thing you need to realize is that negative thoughts are going to come. It is inevitable. The solution is that you do not have to keep those thoughts. Instead of wasting spiritual energy in a futile attempt to avoid bad thoughts, we should refocus our minds on how to deal with those thoughts when they come. You can take or refuse any thought, good or bad. What do I mean by "taking" a thought? Jesus told His disciples, "Why take ye thought for raiment?" (Matt. 6:28). Jesus made an important point with that comment. Thoughts are not forced upon you. They can be taken (accepted) or rejected. The choice is yours.
How is a thought "taken?" Jesus helped us out with this as well. He also said, "Take no thought saying, what shall we eat" (Matt. 6:31). According to our Lord, you "take" a thought when you open your mouth and speak out something based on that thought. Do not say something simply because it pops into your mind. When you say it, you take it. Do not take those thoughts of doubt and fear. Reject them by refusing to speak them out. Thoughts can be difficult to battle. But, you can neutralize a thought and render it harmless, long before it has ever had a chance to germinate, take root, and grow.
One of the most effective ways to silence a satanic suggestion or thought is to speak the opposite out loud, particularly when you can quote God's Word. Your mind cannot think one thing while your tongue is speaking something different. Try counting to 10 in your mind, and in the middle of counting, say, "Hallelujah!" You will find that your counting stops when you begin to speak. If you catch the devil trying to suggest a fearful thought in your mind, respond immediately by speaking scriptures with your mouth.
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