There are many times throughout our day, that we do not have
control over the things we hear (people swearing, mean comments made, negative
attitudes expressed, etc…) or the things we see (questionable adds on
billboards, commercials, etc…). This is
not what we are focusing on today.
Here, in this simple blog, we are focusing on the many, many
times where we have complete control over what we allow into your mind. Times while watching TV, surfing the
internet/social media, or listening to radio/podcasts/etc. These are times we get to choose to
participate, to receive, to follow. We
choose to remain in the audience, or we choose to change channels/programming,
etc. Heck, we could even turn those things off.
Just like in your physical diet, where you have a choice
either to make/order a healthful meal, or a meal that will be enjoyable for a
moment, yet provide nothing of nurture for the body. We have the choice to
either intentionally care for our spiritual diet or just take in whatever comes
our way.
We must realize that in these times, we alone are in control
of our diets!
Our authorities (parents, family, etc.) may put standards in
the home as to what is permissible to be watched on TV, or what is acceptable
music around the house. However, anyone can
always find ways to watch stuff you really want to watch or listen to
that music you really want to listen to.
YOU are in control.
Your teacher may require a certain book to be read for
class. Even then you have a choice. I know a teen that did not agree with the
language and the morals in one of the books a teacher required for class. She spoke PRIVATELY with her teacher and
asked for an alternative project. The
teacher agreed and gave her a project to work on. So, while the class discussed the book, this
student studied and worked on her project, separately. If there is a movie showing you do not agree
with, music you do not agree with, or language you do not agree with, walk
away! You CAN make a change, make a difference!
Of course, there is a spectrum of extremes here, when speaking of physical or Spiritual diets.
1. There is the extreme of being hardcore dieter. Choosing to only do, read, and expose ourselves to “safe” “pure” “Christian” things. To be completely separate from, removed from, anything that could possibly be “worldly.”
This spectrum is where balance needs to come in to play. Knowing when to influence and what to be influenced by. There are times where we need to be far to one side, separating from the world. And yet there are times we need to be immersed within the World.
God gave us a beautiful gift to help us with this
balance. He gave us the Holy Spirit. With
the Holy Spirit indwelling our soul, we have a counselor, redeemer, friend, who
is always with us. The Lord God himself, in the form of the Spirit, fills us
and guides us.
To fully know the Spirit, we must take time to allow Him to
fill us. When we separate from the influences of this world, we intentionally open
our heart and mind to be cleansed, through taking time to read the WORD, and talk
with God in prayer.
Hebrews 4:12-13 [NLT] 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than
the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint
and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all
creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes,
and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
To do this, we must find a quiet time, open our mind to what
is happening in our thoughts. Then, as
we filter through what is in our mind, when we come across an impure thought or
memory, take it to the Lord in prayer, and let HIM replace it with truth. This TRUTH from GOD comes through the Holy Spirit
and is consistent with the written Words of God in the Bible. Therefore, we MUST be a student of the words
in the Bible. These Biblical words are the
truths that replace the lies and impurities within our mind. There are many words of encouragement,
including Philippians chapter 4.
Philippians 4:6-9 [NLT] 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell
God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will
experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear
brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and
honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things
that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you
learned and received from me--everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
But we must not stay in that solitude. We are to carry that
truth, and we must step back into the world, immersed amongst people. Being in
places that need the light of the SPIRIT, the TRUTH of HIS WORD. Where we can
effectively minister to those who have not heard, or do not know truth, and need
the SPIRIT’S love and grace extended to them where they are at. This is a difficult balance, yet a must in
the life of a born-again believer, through Christ Jesus and his death and resurrection.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all challenge us to “Love the Lord
your God with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37; Mk.12:30; Lk. 10:27) This does
not mean that just on Sundays, or when I am doing my “devotions” I think about
God and how I love him. No, they are
saying ALL your mind. And, according to
Philippians 4:8 it should be ALL the time.
Just like a physical diet, your spiritual diet is something that first
takes practice and discipline. Then, it
will become a habit and you will know and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit,
which indwells you.
Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose
thoughts are fixed on you!
To maintain a healthy spiritual diet, you need to be in the
Word of the Lord daily, weekly, always…
Daily check-ups
(personal time to pray and read from the word)
Weekly
feastings (Bible studies, sermons, etc…)
Hebrews 10:23-25 [NLT] 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate
one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our
meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now
that the day of his return is drawing near.
All scripture quoted in
this blog was taken from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/ and is in the New
International Version of the Bible.
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