What are you Feeding your Mind?

"So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which, implanted and rooted (in your hearts) contains the power to save your souls." James 1:21 Amplified Bible

What are you feeding your mind? We have such a wide variety of media to tempt us and lure us into spending our time...Facebook, Twitter, Wii, XBox, movies, television, Blackberries, texting...the list goes on. For a long time, I never paid attention to what I was watching or doing with my leisure time. Then when things got tough, I noticed that nightmares were often linked to what I watched on tv....a racing mind was connected to Facebook gossip before bed...and romance novels were giving me a false idea of what love was. It was time to re-evaluate what I was feeding my mind without even noticing. I guess going to bed with Criminal Minds and waking up with CNN doesn't really promote a feeling of peace and joy!

I haven't eliminated all media from my life...God has placed us in this world and he wants us to live to the fullest in it...but I have learned to evaluate what I watch, say and do. Though Criminal Minds is a great show, it fills me with fear and violent images....so I said goodbye. I keep my Facebook comments positive and uplifting. I am exploring Christian fiction and non-fiction and really enjoying it, and being careful with my other reading choices. Other things, I have decided not to embrace, like Twitter and texting, simply because my time is precious to me. I'm not perfect by any means, but I am trying to pay attention to what I am feeding my mind, and how I am spending my time.

Perhaps the most important change for me has been filling my mind with God's Word. It heals, teaches, changes, restores and comforts me. Small bits and short lines have started to save my soul...and dramatically change my way of thinking, doing and being.

I give thanks to the Lord for His Word, and for opening my heart to it's power and peace. May it help me to rid my life of anything negative or harmful, and may it take root in my heart and transform my life. In Jesus' name, Amen

Life Step: Identify one thing in your life that has a negative influence or impact on you. Decide to eliminate it, and challenge yourself to replace it, little by little, with God's Word. You may want to try a new translation of the Bible, or a devotional book based on Scripture. Start small and let God's Word take root in your heart.