Without firing a single shot, eleven stouthearted soldiers who were skilled skiers secured victory for the Allies during World War II. The Nazis were promptly producing their own atomic bomb, utilizing a heavy water plant that was isolated in the icy hills of Norway—therefore, Operation Gunnerside was initiated in February of 1943 to neutralize it. After British troops were captured, tortured, and executed in an earlier attempt to demolish the facility, the Allies tried again, this time with Norwegian commandos who knew how to sneak around in the snow. The small squad jumped from a plane on the frigid night of February 16th, and after eleven days of strenuous snow-trekking, they quietly infiltrated the plant. While there, they patiently and painstakingly planted charges, disappeared without a trace, and sighed with relief when they heard explosions from a safe distance. 

The Allies were well-aware that winning the war required not only major victories like D-Day, but small-scale successes in places where the enemy appeared less threatening. As the Norwegian Army Colonel in charge of the effort rightfully remarked to those troops, “I cannot tell you why this mission is so important, but if you succeed, it will live in Norway’s memory for a hundred years.” He was right. Although Operation Gunnerside was relatively minor compared to other hard-fought battles, its effects were substantial. Although this seemingly insignificant mission was not a full-scale fight, it was a battle nonetheless—and it contributed to the end of one of history’s deadliest wars.

Similarly, there is another battle often downplayed and disregarded that has eternal ramifications: the battle in every believer’s mind. Even though there are no gunshots, the war waging in the Christian’s mind decides whether victory is won or lost in both temptation and tribulation. Indeed, every believer engages in daily formidable fights with the idolatry of the world, the iniquities of their flesh, and the instigations of the devil. However, a real rough-and-tumble is occurring in every Christian’s mind, where sin is constantly working on a mental nuclear bomb to destroy love for God and hatred of evil. Therefore, every saint must sabotage sin’s mind-operations by detonating truth-bombs which come from God’s word—truth which renews the mind and fills the mind with holy thoughts which evict evil ones (Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:8-9).

Believers are admonished to do precisely that in 2 Corinthians 10:5, where Paul commanded, “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Likewise, the apostle Peter exhorted: “Prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13a, NLT). Believers must arm themselves with the sword of the Spirit for this mind-war because sin will not easily give up the mental territory it once dominated with ease. Every Christian’s mind was once the devil’s playground and sin’s stomping ground, and neither will relinquish control without a fight. The bottom line is that if you know Christ, what you think matters—and it matters more than you think.

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, their much-prayed for son, Oliver, and their three dogs. Brandon and Dakota previously served as foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and his Bible Gleanings columns are featured in over sixteen publications throughout Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and an editor at Reforming the Heart.

Excited for Christmas, or looking for a way to worship the Christ of Christmas during advent? If so, you may enjoy this 25-day daily devotional, written by Brandon for exactly this reason. Grab your copy today before December 1st to get started!