Have you ever just looked back at something sinful that you said or did and wonder why you did it? It was just so unlike you, at least you thought so. Where did it come from? Why did it happen?
First, let’s step back and think about where words that come out of our mouths and actions that we do start from. It is true that they come from the mind, but I believe the starting point is one more place backwards. The heart.
Look at what Matthew 15:19 says.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:19
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All evil thoughts start in the heart. If you are giving yourself to evil, of any kind, then you are letting it live within your heart. That means you will think upon these things and then speak of these things, and eventually do them.
He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23
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Remember the saying, “what goes in must come out”? That wasn’t talking about water. If you listen to music talking about unholy subjects, then that begins to make a home in your heart. As that takes root, you begin to think differently. As you begin to think differently, you begin to speak differently. As you begin to speak differently, you begin to act differently. You getting it?
It isn’t just with music. Movies, card games, board games, video games, websites, text messages, conversations with people, talk shows, TV shows… need I go on?
Now that we know where the problem starts, what do we do? Take a look at Philippians 4:8.
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. Philippians 4:8
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Rewire your brain to think on things that are God-honoring. You know what the best thing you can think on is? Just think on God, praise Him, and let Him know you love Him. Instead of letting all the yucky things of the world dwell within your heart, clear the room out and give it to God.
Some simple steps you can take to help clean out your heart are stop participating in things that do not honor God. How do you know if it doesn’t honor God?
First, ask if it aligns with all that the Bible teaches, don’t pick and choose what you think is relevant. Second, ask yourself if Jesus were visibly sitting next to you would you do whatever it was you were about to do (by the way, He literally is sitting right next to you). Lastly, ask yourself if on judgement day, when all your sins are read before witnesses, would this be read. That last one usually makes it pretty clear if you should do it or not because often times you get a little squirmy if you shouldn’t be.
When you realize that you have done, thought, spoke, etc. something that you shouldn’t have, step back and pray. Ask God to forgive you, to cleanse you, to uproot all evil from your heart. Pray that He will stop the voice of Satan from speaking to you. Ask that God will align your heart, body, soul, and mind with His. Finally, always be sure to ask Him to lead you down the path He has placed for you.
Remember, it is also true that Satan whispers lies into your ear. These lies, if allowed to take root in your heart, can have the exact same outcome as willing letting something into your heart that was sinful. Do exactly the same thing of praying for this situation. His strongest weapon is manipulation. Don’t let him win the battle.
I hope this helps you with your daily life. I encourage you to find a reliable mentor that you can openly talk about your faith with. God gave us fellow believers to help us in our walks of faith.
