A. Fact of the battle and overview of its nature. There is a spiritual battle. Satan and his kingdom of darkness have been defeated by Jesus' death on the Cross in love, but we await its full realization as we labor with God for all men to enter into it. The battle always "belongs to the Lord" (2 Chr. 20:15), but we have the dignity of being able to choose freely to be on the Lord's side and fight with him (assent to his victory) against our personal fallen nature, the world system of our fallen nature, and the devil.

B. Dimensions of our spiritual battle. The spiritual battle always involves us in two dimensions of our being: as an individual person fighting to work out our own salvation (Phil. 2:12), and as a Body working for its sanctification and the salvation of unbelievers (Rev. 2 and 12, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Peter 5:9). The spiritual battle always involves us in two dimensions of our life and our will: our acting and our thinking. Our acting ("walking" Gal. 5:16-25) and thinking affect one another, however -- for good or for evil (Rom. 8:4-8). There is also the dimension of the battle of prayer, which is a specific dimension of the battle, yet is absolutely essential for the battle to bring both our acting and thinking in conformity with Christ Jesus (CCC 2745).

C. The battle for the mind specifically.

Our intelligence -- our ability to grasp truth, to judge, and to reason -- is a tremendous gift of dignity from the Trinity. By God's revelation and authority, we are each commanded and enabled to "love the Lord your God . . . with all your mind" (Mark 12:30). Since Satan wants to destroy this communion of our thoughts with God, he seeks to draw our thoughts toward error, wrong desires, suspicion against God -- in general, toward rebellion against and hatred of God. The mind is meant by God to govern our desires and will according to the revelation of God's thoughts to us through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2). However, our sin has darkened and blinded our minds. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed it cannot (Rom. 8:7). The scriptures often address the need for believers to have their minds further set free from this darkness. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Rom. 12:2).