“We use our powerful God tools for smashing warped philosophies, and tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ”

(2 Corinthians 10:5, The MessageBible).

I imagine that every person reading this has experienced a time where it seemed that there was an all out battle taking place in his or her soul (mind, will and emotions). The battle is real, and it is within. You might be able to relate to the apostle Paul when he says, “…for what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice” (Romans 7:15). Like Paul, you will face many beasts in life.

As a professional bull rider, I have faced enormous beasts daily en route to establishing myself as a world champion. Bull riding has been classified as one of the most dangerous sports in the world, and I’ve been greatly blessed of the Lord to be used by Him as an ambassador for His kingdom in the arena. But today I want to talk to you about the arena of life. If you are going to succeed in life, you must conquer the beast within. You will need every tool that the Lord has given you (i.e. prayer, faith, courage). A beast can be anything that opposes God’s will for your life and tries to place you in bondage. Remember the very moment in which you surrendered you’re life to Jesus as an act of your free will? That very decision instantly made you a world champion in Christ and you became his ambassador. When you entered into the light (a personal relationship with Jesus), you left the kingdom of darkness – where you had once held residency – behind. In doing so, you became a huge threat to your former landlord, the devil. He then launched a massive attack against your soul. Your soul – your mind, will, and emotions – is your control center and based on the information you program it with, that is what will become of your future. The enemy desires to entangle you to believe his lies that his world system is the only information you need. But I’m here to tell you by the Spirit of the Lord, you are a conqueror and you have been given all dominion (Genesis 1:26), power and authority over your enemy (Luke 9:1) or any beast that would dare to stand in your way of fulfilling your God-given destiny!

Get Serious: Seek God’s face today, and allow His Spirit to reveal the beasts in your life that need to be evicted and destroyed. Most people know that God is a conqueror, but you must see yourself as one as well, for you are created in His image (Genesis 1:26).

Go Deep: Read Galatians 5, Romans 8, and Colossians 3:1-10.