“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” -Philippians 4:8
God has given us the power of choice; free will to either listen to His instructions or reject His divine authority. Whatever does not uplift our spirits and draw our hearts and minds closer to God and His word, will, bit by bit, distract us from our true calling as Christians. Read that again.
We are at a time when those of us who claim to be followers of God must reevaluate our choices not only in where we go or what we do, but also in what we feed our minds: visual entertainment, games, music, reading materials, etc. We need to be asking, is this pure? Is this lovely? We need to be praying, as David did, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” –Psalms 139:23-24
This is not an easy prayer to pray, however, I believe we will be richly rewarded by our Father in heaven when we give our hearts and minds completely over to Him and acknowledge “[t]hy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” –Psalms 119:160.
God’s word is the only safeguard we have when it comes to the temptations of this world. If we continually allow ourselves to be distracted by the entertainments of society, how will we be able to hear His voice? We must actively be studying and memorizing scripture so that in times of trouble we have God’s word hidden in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him. The time is here when we must, by the power of God, be so submitted to Him, with our affections so set on things above, that like Jesus, we can say that “the prince of this world (Satan) comes and has nothing in (no power over) me“*.
I ask my Christian friends, and all who are looking for truth and a better way in these tough times, to prayerfully read the Bible and “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (correctly handling) the word of truth.” –2 Timothy 2:15 We must have our lives completely hidden in Jesus so that not even by a thought can we be brought to sin.
-Kirsten
PS: Do you know someone who would be blessed by this message? Please feel free to share the link so they can be encouraged too!
*Overcoming sin does not mean that we can claim to be sinless like Jesus was-we will always need Jesus’s robe of righteousness-but rather a transformed life is the fruit, or evidence, that by grace, through faith, God is working the process of sanctification in our lives as we submit to Him. Anyone that preaches that we cannot have victory over sins (such as lying, stealing, p0rnography, etc.) is robbing the gospel of its transformative power. Remember, Justification (what Jesus did for us on the cross) does not equal Sanctification (what we do in loving response to the grace shown).