God-given Filters For Our Mind

How are our thoughts, words and actions most influenced in this world? To be influenced, something or someone affects or changes how we develop, behave, or think. This is most often done indirectly. How can we ensure that our words, actions, thoughts and character are positively influenced and not negatively?

The key is to monitor and control what we see and hear. What are we reading? What are we watching on television, on the internet or at the movies? What music or podcasts are we listening to?

What we expose to our eyes and ears, eventually forms our thoughts which eventually develops into our words, actions and character. This is why Jesus teaches us in Matthew‬ ‭6:22‭-‬23,

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

Jesus cautions us to monitor what we watch and the same goes to what we listen to.

Solomon shares this wisdom in Proverbs 2:2,

"Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding."

In Philippians 4:8, Apostle Paul provides healthy guidelines for what we allow ourselves to watch, read and listen to.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

In order to more easily "think on these things", we must be diligent in what we allow to enter our minds by means of our eyes and ears. We must use proper discretion as Solomon shares in Proverbs 3:21-23,

"Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble."

Another barometer we can use to test what we watch and listen to is to ask ourselves: "If Jesus was sitting here with me... Would I be watching this? Would I be reading this book? Would I be listening to this song?" These are good questions, because He IS sitting there with you.

The Lord is fully aware of everything we allow in. There's no hiding it.

David shares in Psalms 139:2-3,

"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

And because He knows us and is beside us, we can turn to Him for wisdom, guidance and self-discipline in our decisions. David ends this passage of Psalms by turning to God for such assistance. We read in verses 23-24,

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

God promises to help us and lead us on the paths of righteousness if we seek Him and ask Him.

We read in Proverbs 3:6-8,

"in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

So let us use the eyes and ears God gave us to filter what comes into our minds. Let us use wisdom and discernment provided in God's Word. Let us ask for self-discipline provided through the Holy Spirit. And let us gladly sit with Jesus as we select what to listen to, watch, or read.
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