Ways To Overcome A Wilderness Mentality

Have you been feeling like you’re going around and around in circles? Like you can’t break a certain pattern of thinking or behavior? If you are still breathing, you will likely go through a wilderness season or struggle with a wilderness mentality in some area of your life.

Satan loves when we find ourselves stuck and he uses it to his advantage. A wilderness mentality is a ploy of the devil, but the Bible say’s if we resist the devil that he shall FLEE!

This is not to discourage you, but rather to encourage you if you are struggling with a wilderness mentality. The encouragement is this, God ALWAYS provides a way of escape and breaking a wilderness mentality is possible through he blood of Jesus Christ!

Keep this truth in mind as you navigate through this post. One of Jesus’ primary objectives was to set the captives free. There is hope!

Luke 4:18 say’s, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free”.

This topic is very common. Here is what we will cover:

What is the biblical definition of wilderness
Signs and symptoms of a wilderness mentality
6 ways to overcome a wilderness mentality
Prayer to overcome a wilderness season

What is the Biblical Definition of Wilderness?

The word wilderness is used 305 times in the Bible. When translated back to the original language it is of Hebrew origin that literally means a pasture, open field, a wilderness.

Wilderness is defined as a confusing multitude or mass: an indefinitely great number or quantity, a bewildering situation.

A wilderness mentality is when you keep going round and round the same old mountain of bondage, the same old pattern of thinking, and when we go round and round the familiar even when we know it’s harmful.

We see in Deuteronomy 2:3 that God tells the Israelites that they have gone around THIS mountain long enough and that it was time to turn directions. What mountain is God pointing out to you today?

what does the bible say about a wilderness mentality — What does the bible say about a wilderness mentality?

Signs of A Wilderness Mentality

Below are some signs and symptoms of a wilderness mentality:

You’re dealing with some sort of vicious cycle. Whether it be some kind of addiction, a negative belief system, or harmful habits.
When you can’t seem to forsake who you used to be OR what you use to do that is against God’s will.
When you experience resistance to change or struggle mentally to accept freedom.
When you constantly focus on the negative things of the past.
When you have adopted certain types of behaviors and responses based off traumatic events.
When you’re dealing with things from the past that no longer concern your present.
When you know that Jesus has set you free but you still act as if your bound and in bondage.
If you struggle with moving forward no matter how hard you try.

6 Ways to Overcome A Wilderness Mentality

1. The first thing you have to do and this is a very important key. You have to choose that you are leaving!

2. Pray and ask God and the Holy Spirit to help you make the transition from slavery into freedom. Then submit to whatever process of change he decides to take you through.

3. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into recognizing your habitual habits and habitual mental responses.

What do I mean by habitual response? Every time you’re confronted with that problem, with that situation, with that mountain you respond the same way every time. Change your response. Stop responding the same way! It’s not that you’re not free; your response has just become a habit.

4. Change your response by re-association. Sometimes we have to reframe certain events. Sometimes we have to go as far as to reframe our why. Re-associate your responses with something new. Give it a new positive meaning! Ask the Holy Spirit to help guide you on this step.

Related: Powerful Oppression Prayer To Stop Spiritual Oppression

5. Forsake: Bishop Dale C. Bronner always says that in order to progress you must forsake. You must forsake what was, your old paradigms, your old patterns of thinking, your old way of doing things.

6. Press: Press toward the area of freedom you desire. Paul said in Philippians 3:13, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Prayer Points On Wilderness Experience (Includes Scriptures)

Deuteronomy 2:3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
- Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus please help me to receive your newness of life. Lord, may I not be confound to my yesterday but may I experience the joy and freedom you died for me to have today! Thank you Lord for showing me the patterns and tricks of the enemy that keep my going round and round in circles. May they be broken NOW in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
- Prayer: God I pray that you will help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to forget those things that are behind me. Lord, give me the strength to press on to what lies before me. Help me Lord to leave the past in the past, to forgive who I need to forgive, and to let go of what I am holding hold. I trust you Lord with my life’s journey. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
- Prayer: Father in heaven, may I always be able to perceive when you are doing a new thing. My prayer is that you do something new in me. Do something new in my mind, do something new in my finances, do something new in my actions and reactions. Father, may I become more and more like you everyday. May I forsake what has been for what is. In Jesus Name, Amen
Psalm 121: 1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
- Prayer: Lord, I am so grateful that I can lift my eyes unto you when I am in trouble. Please, Lord, help me to keep a constant gaze on Jesus and his finished work on the cross. Thank you Lord that you help me and uphold me with your righteous right hand. In Jesus Name Amen.
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
- Prayer: Father, I pray that you would increase my faith! Increase my faith to move in a different direction. Increase my faith to follow you at your command. To trust you with my journey. help me to have hope for an expected end. To know that I am not stuck! Lord, I command ALL hindering spirits to leave my life NOW in Jesus Name. I command every spirit blocking my believe for a breakthrough to leave now in Jesus Name. I command every stubborn mountain to be removed and cast into he seas NOW in Jesus Name. Amen!