"Get rid of the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." --James 1:21
I am on day 15 of my 90 day devotional by Rebecca St. James. Today's reading asks: What do you spend the majority of your time thinking about? This really makes you (me at least) stop and think...what TV shows or movies do I watch? What magazines or books do I read? What sort of things do I see on the internet? As I think about it, I realize I don't look at magazines that I would think of bad (right away), but then when I really consider it, even workout/shape magazines have pictures or articles that are not necessarily wholesome. Then I think about the TV shows I watch...considering the shows I watch, I can say without a doubt they are not as "bad" as a lot of them, but then I really have to ask myself, if they are "okay", why won't I let my 4 yr. old watch them?! Just something to think about and seriously consider...
What goes into our hearts and minds is going to come out in our lives--page 41
When I think of this, I think of the phrase, "that sucks!" I remember growing up when my friends started using that phrase and my parents (mostly my dad) HATED it! He still does. I found that the more I was around my friends and heard that phrase, the more often I said it myself. As silly as that may be, think about swearing...if you're around it ALL the time, don't you think it's just as easy to pick up on? I hear kids, LITTLE kids, when I am subbing, saying things that shouldn't come out of anyone's mouth, let alone a CHILD'S! Or, think of pornography...or alcohol...you always hear people say "I don't have a problem" or "I can quit anytime." Once that image is there, it's there....the problem is, that a lot of times people don't just "look" once. It becomes habit and that often times leads to addiction...
Rebecca also asks the question: If you have something in your mind that you don't want there, how can you clean the cobwebs out and get rid of those bad memories? ASK GOD FOR HELP! Ask for forgiveness if you habitually expose yourself to these bad things...ask for help to erase the memories of things you were exposed to that you had no control over..."As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:11-12. So even if you pray about it and can still remember it, God has forgiven and forgotten! HE can help you!
We can't change the past, but we can control the future--and we know who holds it!!!
Passages to meditate on:
Psalm 101:3-4
Psalm 119:9-11
Romans 12:1-2
Philippians 4:7-8
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