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31 Days :: Day 24 – F.L.E.E. Impure Input

This Morning:

  • Today starts a tough week discussing the purification of our minds… of present impurities and past regrets. This morning, spend some time in prayer, asking God to open your heart and mind to what He has to show you this week.
  • Journal about whatever comes to mind as you are praying about this specific topic.
Devotion: F.L.E.E. Impure Input

It is somewhat taboo for women to discuss the topic of purifying our thought lives. We talk about how men struggle with lust. We talk about how easily they can get caught up in lustful thoughts, pornography, and sexual relationships outside of marriage. But guess what, girls? We face this, too. It just looks different and influences us in different ways. And we don’t want to talk about it. But this week, we’re going to.

Our minds are constantly bombarded with all kinds of input, some good and some bad. We are influenced {sometimes subconsciously} by what we watch, what we read, what and WHO we listen to, and any other outside forces in our lives. Have you ever stopped and thought about how that TV show is affecting your mind? Or that book? Or that magazine? Or something you’re looking at on the internet? For example, where do your thoughts go when you look at that actor that you “innocently” think is cute? Or when scenes come across the big screen that cause you to think about sex in a way opposite of what God intended it?

Things can seem innocent to us, but subconsciously, they are affecting our minds in a slow-fade sort of way. I’ll give you an example from my life. I love the TV show Friends. It was my favorite show to watch back in the 90s and early 2000s. However, after a series of events in my life, I started to recognize what this particular show was doing to my thoughts. It was causing me subconsciously to accept their lifestyles and to believe that their concept of relationships was okay. {Friends wasn’t the only problem. There were other influences, as well, but we’ll talk more about those tomorrow and Wednesday.} I don’t watch Friends anymore. But I didn’t stop for legalistic reasons. It’s because I no longer wanted my mind to be influenced by that stuff.

Can you think of a specific impure outside influence that you allow in? Maybe you can think of a few. Do you recognize how powerful the little phrase “garbage in, garbage out” really is? The “garbage” not only affects us, but it affects our spouses and our children. And it also affects other relationships in our lives.

My challenge for you today is to think through what you watch, what you read, what and WHO you listen to, what you look at on the internet, and any other outside influences you can think of. How are these things {and people} affecting you?

Before we go any further into this week, I want to make sure you all know something straight from my heart… this week is not about a legalistic list of dos and don’ts. It may seem like it at times, but it’s not. Instead it’s about the condition of our own hearts and minds. It’s about changing how we look at things that hurt God’s heart, hurt our families’ hearts, and hurt ourselves.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. – Proverbs 4:20-27 (NIV)

F.L.E.E. – Free Lives Embrace Escape. God gave me this acronym about a week ago and it has stuck with me. In order to live in the freedom that Christ has given us, we’ve got to escape temptation. To ACCEPT the way out that He gives us {1 Corinthians 10:13}. When we are tempted to do {or think} anything outside of God’s will, we must embrace escape. Completely avoid it.

And one more thing… did you notice the verse before 1 Corinthians 10:13? Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall {1 Corinthians 10:12}.

We. Are. All. Capable. Of. Falling.

That’s why we must guard our hearts and minds… with everything we’ve got and with everything He’s got.

To Make You Think:

  1. What specific outside influences are affecting your mental purity?
  2. Be honest with yourself. Where does your mind go when you are hit with these influences?
  3. Do you recognize how serious these influences are and how they affect your relationship with God and with your spouse? If so, are you willing to cast them down?
  4. If you have been in a legalistic environment before and you don’t want to hear anymore about what shows or movies you should watch… Would you be willing to ask God to give you a new perspective? For Him to show you that this is not about rules… it’s about relationship?
The Rest of the Day:
  • Spend time in prayer tonight and journal about what God has revealed to you.
  • Think about the freedom God wants for you in the escape of temptation… F.L.E.E.
See you tomorrow!

 

Continuing on…  31 Days :: Day 25 – Why Harry Was Right

 



 

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