Last week we talked about lust, and in that post, we mentioned that it’s the entertaining and welcoming of a thought that leads to sin. This then leads us to examine what we should or shouldn’t be feeding our minds.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. — Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV)
Here in Philippians, Paul tells us what kinds of things we should be feeding our minds. If you’re not feeding your mind what’s on that menu, then you’re going to start welcoming in things that lead to degradation.
I love to play video games, watch a sci-fi show, and read literature for knowledge. However, there are games, shows and literature that I simply will not allow in my mind! Things that are lascivious, glorify violence or hateful just to name a few. Those things will corrupt your soul and turn you into the same. If I feed my mind sexually suggestive stuff all day, then after a while I’m going to be full of (sexual) lust. Likewise, if I feed my mind negative and hateful news all day, then after a while I will become pessimistic, fearful and hateful. Some will say “you only become those things if you have a week mind”. That deceptive thought is a stratagem that the devil uses on people. If you keep entertaining these things, in time your mind will be taken over by them.
More importantly however, is that in almost anything you do, there will be some kind of narrative involved. And this is where the devil dances and delights to set up camp. It is important to understand ALL narratives being used on you: is the narrative truth or deceit? Is it edifying or unedifying? Is it holy or unholy? Know what you are welcoming into your mind, because after you’ve welcomed in a narrative, it gets fed into your subconscious willingly or not. And, in time, that will start to change you, as it goes to your heart. A narrative is seeds, and those seeds will grow. Then after a while, the plants will take deep root, meaning they spread throughout your mind and into your heart. The deeper the root the harder it is to be changed or removed. If those roots are from the plants mentioned by Paul, then that is a great thing! If they are not, those roots can put you on a dangerous course that can lead you to a reprobate (depraved) mind. And, these plants will always produce fruit, but are they fruit of The Spirit or the flesh?
The fruit of the Spirit are:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance — Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
Meanwhile the fruit, or that is the works of the flesh are:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. — Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)
Examine the stuff that you are feeding your mind, whatever activity it may be. Examine them against the three lists here. Where do they stand? If they align with the third (last) list, then I urge you to find and feed your mind new thoughts.
If there are thoughts with roots that are so deep they go into your heart, then come to Jesus. He’s an excellent husbandryman; He can and wants to remove them from your heart if you ask Him sincerely. And, whenever he takes away, He replaces with something better.
If you are not saved/redeemed please do so today.
Come to God open, empty and without statements.
Ask him to be real to you and believe in Him.
Humble yourself before Him, confess who you are, and tell Him that you are sorry for your sins.
Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life and start a personal relationship.
Believe this and be born again!
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old in the faith, in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom