The Battle for Your Mind as a Christian Writer: How to Overcome Fear, Lies, and Spiritual Warfare

In this episode, we’re digging into one of the greatest battles every Christian writer faces: the battle for the mind. If you’ve been wrestling with fear, discouragement, comparison, burnout, negative thought patterns, or spiritual warfare in your writing life, this conversation is for you.

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Welcome, beloved creative. I’m so glad you’ve tuned in for part 3 of our garden-inspired series, where I dive into the wisdom nuggets the Father shared with me about building a sustainable business—ironically, while in my garden.

Today, things might get uncomfortable. Painful pieces we don’t want to address—and quite frankly don’t want to deal with—might rise to the surface.

Yep, it’s true. We’re discussing destructive mindsets and the spiritual warfare that is forever plowing in unwelcome.

Because every attack against your writing begins long before you ever sit down at the keyboard. It begins in the garden of your mind.

Every Attack Against Your Writing Begins in the Garden of Your Mind

This is one of those episodes you’re gonna want to give your full attention to. We’re gonna get raw. We might hit on some of those vulnerable places. But we’re doing so in the comfort of the Father’s presence and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve said it before: I’m invested in you rising up to be the woman God has ordained you to become and for you to create the sustainable writing business that blesses your family, your readers, and has a lasting kingdom impact.

As we walk out our God-given callings, there will be things that come against your writing to cause delay, hindrance, and even outright destruction. And I want to give you tangible, practical steps to overcome and thrive, so these unwelcome pests do not commandeer your creative garden.

There are a plethora of pests and problems that could affect your natural gardens and decimate your crop.

At our house, we have not had an issue in the past with squirrels and chipmunks in our garden. This year, however, is a totally different story. My daughter is at war with the chipmunks burrowing holes and uprooting her plants. I shouldn’t laugh, but watching her stomp around the garden beds, ranting over those pesky vermin, is kind of cute.

However, here’s where her war is ineffective. All of her threats to cause the chipmunks bodily harm are empty ones. Because she has no intentions of actually taking them out, and we—her parents—have been slow in getting a better fence around the more problematic areas.

So, what good will grumbling do if we’re not taking ownership of the situation and putting effective plans in place to guard our garden and protect the harvest?

Likewise, with our writing and creative spaces, we can discuss battle strategies and broaden our understanding of how the enemy operates, but if we don’t take actionable steps to rise and overcome, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

With me so far? And if you feel your toes being stepped on during this episode, trust me, my friend, mine were smashed as I lived through these lessons.

Why the Enemy Targets the Mind of a Christian Writer

Now, before we can eliminate pests from our garden, we must deepen our understanding of the battleground.

Spiritually speaking, your heart and mind are not two separate organs, and are in fact, one and the same when it comes to the seat of your will.

The heart and mind are interconnected in scripture and are comprised of your will, your mind, and your emotions. It’s all tied up in a pretty little package.

And this right here is the area every pest—every attack—against your calling as a writer will hit.

The enemy of your soul seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. And he does that by starting on the battlefield of your mind. Every attack, whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual, is aimed at persuading us to surrender territory that Christ has already won.

The enemy will operate subtlety, working on you over a period of time, until you’re muzzled, crippled by fear, despondent, apathetic to your calling, and spiritually dead—thus ineffective for the kingdom.

We study in scripture how the enemy wanted God’s throne. He wanted the spotlight of praise and worship to be solely focused on him and him alone. Satan wanted to steal what only belonged to God.

In turn, he was kicked out of heaven and has been a wedge between God and His creation ever since.

But thanks be to Jesus. Christ is our hope, our champion, our strong tower, and our saving grace. Jesus alone makes thriving in this life possible.

In John 15:5, Jesus tells His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NKJV)

People will often focus on the nothing piece of that verse. This isn’t about being called out as weak, puny, or useless.

Because the honest fact remains, we are weak. We do have limitations. We have more struggles and obstacles than we know what to do with.

However, Jesus wasn’t focused on highlighting our limitations or demeaning us because of them. He wanted to empower us to understand the limitless possibilities that come when we work with and through Him.

He wants us to do the things. To build the projects. To write the books. To thrive abundantly and be fruitful for the kingdom, because that fruitfulness brings great glory to God.

Yet, Jesus knew that in this world we would have tribulations. We would have great sorrows. We would have hardships that are above our abilities to overcome. But we have hope, because He has overcome the world (ref. John 16:33).

And He can be the One who makes the way straight and the path teaming with life when no one and nothing else can.

Spiritual Warfare Often Begins with Subtle Lies

The struggle to believe that we can see this as a reality in our days happens within our own minds.

Remember how I said that the enemy is subtle? He often doesn’t come with an outright attack. Much of his strategy acts like releasing a lure, drawing us in, until we take the bait and the cage snaps.

Even if you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, the enemy will always look for a crack in. Going so far as to convince you to partner with a lie, just to get a foothold in.

Ephesians 6 reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. I try not to overspiritualize everything, because I do not believe that every problem we face in life is the enemy’s fault.

We are flesh, and we have free will. Which means we can make decisions that are not for our good and, honestly, may have even been done from an unholy mindset.

You know what I mean? Those fear-based decisions. Or the choices made out of anger or bitterness. Or the mad dash to the proverbial finish line because we have to one-up the author we think is more talented than us.

I know you get this.

We can be responsible for some pretty selfish choices, and as such, we are responsible for reaping what we sow (ref. Galatians 6:7-9).

However, God is merciful, and He will never take His love from us. When we repent of our selfishness, God is right there ready to pick back up where we left off.

God’s Promises and Our Responsibility

To make headway with conquering this mental battle ground, we need to recognize what our responsibility is alongside what God has promised.

God Promises His Presence

God promises to never leave us. We see all throughout scripture, where God repeats Himself time and again, that He will be with His people. We need to believe that and trust He will be faithfully present.

Which means our responsibility is to remain with Him. If we’re constantly running away or scattered doing our own thing, we can’t blame God for not blessing those wayward plans.

Our Responsibility Is to Remain

Next, God has promised and given His Son as our King, Shepherd, Advocate, Prince of Peace—our beautiful Messiah.

Our responsibility is to receive Him and abide in Him.

Also, God has promised and given His Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher and Comforter.

Our responsibility is to listen and obey where the Spirit leads.

Abiding Produces Lasting Fruit

Another promise to highlight: God has promised and given His Word, and that word is life.

Our responsibility is to meditate on His word, day and night. Not skimming the word. Not doing loose or random devotionals simply to feel as if we’ve completed our religious duty. We are to sit, meditate, and ruminate on God’s word. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).

But the word can only be effective if we’re in the word, applying the truth to our lives.

Do you notice a pattern here? God is the One reaching out, making and fulfilling the promises, and how we respond to His lovingkindness matters to the growth of our fruit.

Loving God Before Loving the Calling

Now, things will get dicey when the enemy convinces us not to trust, stand in, or believe on these truths. Remember how the enemy wants to be a wedge between you and God? Which means the enemy will work on you, keeping you distracted, fearful, tired, hurt, angry, etc., so that you stay out of God’s word and away from God’s presence.

There’s a reason we’re instructed to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (ref. Mark 12:30). Because our genuine, unapologetic love for God will inspire us to seek Him even when things aren’t good.

Our love for God will inspire us to trust Him as good and faithful, even when things don’t feel good.

Do we, as creatives after God’s own heart, know what it means to adore Him? Do we know what it feels like to love God simply to love Him?

No exceptions. No wish lists. No demands. Just loving God because He is our God.

This is where a lot of Christians see a disconnect. Many love God because they’re told to. They’re told that to garner God’s favor, love, support, and provision, they need to complete an A through Z checklist—without fail.

Something I’d love to have resonate for all of us is the truth that God created mankind to walk with Him, to be with Him, to worship Him. God wanted communion and fellowship with His creation. Sure, God gave Adam a job and responsibilities to fill his days and to serve a purpose. But Adam was not a task monkey.

Adam and Eve weren’t created only because God needed someone to pull weeds.

Just like God called you for more than just filling word docs with stories.

You Are First a Daughter, Then a Writer

Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that you don’t have time, or you’re too tired, or too dirty, or that you’ve failed and weren’t faithful enough to come before God’s throne in fellowship and communion.

Sit with God, my friend. Be in His presence. Even if all you do is sit and breathe and allow His Spirit to hug you. Sometimes that can be enough to calm the emotional chaos and give you the upper hand in the mental warfare.

Why Healthy Community Matters for Christian Writers

The enemy doesn’t only attack our relationship with God. He also targets the relationships God gives us to strengthen us.

Along with being a wedge between God and us, the enemy will also cause discontent, strife, and conflict between you and others.

You’ll hear me say quite often that we were not made to walk this journey alone. We are designed for community. Even if our circles are small, we are still made to be with other people.

Yes, even my fellow introverts. We need those human companions who use their strengths to serve the body, just as we strive to do in return.

What Companion Planting Taught Me About Godly Relationships

For example, home gardeners are probably familiar with the term companion planting. But if you’ve never heard of that before, let me give a quick definition.

Companion planting is a gardening strategy that uses natural plant relationships to create a healthier, more productive garden without harsh chemicals.

Companion planting isn’t just about pest control. Certain plants, like beans and peas, will pull nitrogen out of the air and put it into the soil, acting as tiny fertilizer factories.

Tall, sturdy plants (like corn or sunflowers) act as natural trellises for climbing plants without you needing to buy wire cages or stakes.

Beautiful right? Yet, here’s the thing: not every plant is designed to be a companion plant.

Some plants are heavy feeders and will steal nutrients from others. Certain plants will even release compounds into the soil that could hinder or disrupt the growth and development of other plants.

We may have been designed for community, but not everyone is meant to journey with you. And not everyone is meant to be in your inner circle of trust.

Which is why we need the discernment provided by the Holy Spirit to know which relationships are God-ordained and healthy. Those are the relationships we’ll want to guard and invest in.

Especially when the enemy sets his sights on using those God-ordained and healthy relationships against us for the purpose of causing division and isolation. The enemy does not want a community and fellowship where we build the kingdom with one another.

If the enemy can divided you from those healthy relationships, he can have a greater chance of working you over, making you weak, vulnerable, and susceptible to the schemes that will disease your spirit.

How to Take Every Thought Captive

By this point, we’ve discussed the battleground and shed light on the enemy’s goal for dumping his trash into your mental space.

So to combat and overcome the warfare in the mind, let’s reflect on some familiar verses.

My friend, by courageously participating in this conversation, we are shaking off the chains keeping us silent and hidden, and are being repositioned to step into the fullness of our God-given callings.

If you can, grab your Bible and a notebook or journal, because next up, we’re going to read scriptures and do a reflection exercise together.

A Scripture Reflection Exercise from Philippians 4

Once you have your Bible, turn with me to Philippians 4 and let’s soak up the truth and comfort found in verse 8.

Which reads:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate [or some translations read think] on these things. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

Think on these things. In your notebook, jot down those key words: true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy.

When thoughts, whispers, or suggestions come into your mind, take an honest inventory of them and ask yourself whether or not they match up to the words and phrases from Philippians 4:8.

Be honest with yourself, too.

Bringing Every Thought Under Christ’s Authority

Then I want you to turn to 2 Corinthians 10, and we’ll read verses 3-5.

The word says,

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

These scriptures are so deep and are for more than just the battleground over our mental spaces. However, they do nicely illustrate how we war, and the authority that we have over our thoughts.

Listen, it’s your mind, your will, your emotions. That is territory in which you have authority.

So the question today then becomes: are you allowing dark, unpleasant, ungodly, unprofitable thoughts to run rampant through your mind, or are you willing to take hold of them to put them under the authority of Jesus?

Think on that question, because your willingness to do the hard things will matter in what comes next.

Reflection Exercise

I want you to pick a current situation. It could be about your writing career, a work relationship, the project you’ve just released, etc. You pick. But just pick one, or you might get overwhelmed.

In your journal or notebook, write out the situation and the thoughts in your head. Every thought. Do a brain dump, get it all out. Pause this episode if you need to.

Once you finish your brain dump, I want you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come in and be with you. Because in order to sift between truth and lie, you’re going to need the wisdom and discernment He has to bring.

Again, pause this episode if you need to. We’re tackling strongholds today. Please don’t feel as though you need to rush this.

Then, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I want you to cross out everything that isn’t true, pure, just, all the things from Philippians 4:8.

And this is where the Holy Spirit needs to take charge. Because what you cross out isn’t about your opinion of the situation. It’s about seeing the situation from God’s perspective.

Once you cross out what isn’t sown in truth, then I want you to write down what God has either already said about the situation or what the Holy Spirit is speaking in the here and now.

My Recent Battle with Mental Warfare

As you ponder and reflect, let me share a confession.

I spiraled in the month of May. If you are on the Heart for Creatives newsletter, then you know my father-in-law passed away in April after dealing with quite a few health struggles. That time understandably brought on grief, and serving in love, I stepped into some hard places to bear heavy loads.

I do not regret that at all. Not for a single moment.

However, May brought on a different kind of hard. With unexpected needs, lots of detours, and a whirlwind of pivots.

Which meant I became overextended, overstimulated, and operated in survival mode.

When Life Derails

Sometimes life is like that. Situations hit you left, right, and center, and it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. You’ve just entered a hard season.

However, this overstimulated state left me weak and vulnerable. It’s a state the enemy loves to see God’s children in.

And in full transparency, I ended up believing lies that had been whispered to me.

Because of the trauma that I’ve endured in life, I have tender areas when it comes to believing that I’m worthy of love and that I have value.

This particular thread of lies hit that tender place, and I spiraled into a tailwind of anger and self-sabotage.

Thankfully, I have a beautiful friend who is a great support system, who the Lord used to stop this spiral and shove me back on track.

But in order for victory to step in, I first had to let go of my anger. Once I let go of that anger, truth took root and produced good fruit. And the month of June was fantastic.

My friend, I know I don’t talk about my books on this podcast, but let me tell you. I’ve been in contact with an editor for my current work-in-progress. I’ve drafted two outlines with a smattering of ideas for a third. And if you’re new to my writing style, I am not a plotter. I love discovery writing. But story has been bursting from my seams, and I’ve had to put the ideas somewhere.

I love what is ahead for my creative writing. God is so good.

Step Away From Self-Sabotage

But I would not have had any of that if I had continued to wallow in the self-sabotage.

So, my friend, I want you to reflect on what you wrote in your journal and deeply process what God has spoken through His Holy Spirit, regarding your situation.

You may not be battling anger, as I had been. For you, it could be intimidation, fear, doubt, loneliness, or jealousy. I encourage you to release that unto the Lord and allow His truth room to take hold.

Choose Your Hard: Guard the Garden of Your Mind

We’ll be wrapping things up soon, but I want to share a few more thoughts first.

When it comes to the mental, emotion, and spiritual warfare, the solution to overcome will be simple, but the application will feel hard.

Because to apply the solution will require us to surrender what we’re holding onto and submit ourselves to God’s tender care, trusting that He holds our future and will be faithful in due season.

For those who are struggling to let go, I will challenge you with this:

Take Ownership of Your Mental Space

Choose your hard. Take ownership of your mental space and put effective plans in place to not allow the enemy’s lies uproot what God is planting.

Just as a healthy garden isn’t maintained by accident, neither is a healthy mind.

Faith is hard. Not because you can’t believe, but because it’s in direct opposition to your flesh.

Jesus knew that we would have tribulations in this life, but we can take comfort knowing that He has overcome the world. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (ref. Romans 8:37).

But that will take us rising up and climbing out of the holes the enemy would like to bury us in.

You are an overcomer.

You are victorious.

You were not given this calling to be in a constant state of defeat.

The enemy may knock on the garden gate, but he doesn’t get to decide what’s sown there.

I believe in you, my friend. And I know you can take the truths shared today and win the battle over your mind.

Key Takeaways

Let’s do a quick recap as we wrap up for today.

Today’s takeaway is simple: every harvest is protected before it’s produced.

• We talked about recognizing the true battleground—the mind and heart where the enemy tries to plant fear, discouragement, and lies.

• We looked at the promises God has already given us through His presence, His Spirit, and His Word, alongside our responsibility to remain with Him, abide in Him, listen, and obey.

• We explored the importance of guarding both our thoughts and our relationships, allowing truth to take root while uprooting the lies that keep us stuck.

• And finally, we practiced taking every thought captive by filtering it through God’s Word so we can cultivate a creative life that bears lasting fruit for His kingdom.

Continue the Conversation

My friend, you are dearly loved and greatly cherished. I’m so grateful you dropped in today, and I pray you were blessed, inspired, and encouraged.

If these reflections encourage your heart, I’d love to invite you to join the Heart for Creatives newsletter, where I share biweekly encouragement and Scripture-centered reflections for Christian writers.

And if you know someone who could be uplifted from this message, I’d love it if you could please send them a link to this conversation.

Other Conversations To Bless Your Journey

If you’re walking through a particularly difficult season, you may also enjoy Depression Crushing Your Writing? 3 Truths to Help You Keep Going.

Discover the deeper heart issue behind constantly feeling behind in Time Isn’t the Problem—Here’s What Is

Learn how to continue writing faithfully during life’s unexpected interruptions in Grace Despite the Chaos: Writing Through Life’s Interruptions