I was watching one of the family vloggers on YouTube. For the sake of clarity, a vlogger is a person who videos their daily life and posts it online. It’s a video blog. I enjoy watching these vloggers because it’s so much fun watching young families raise their children. It’s like watching a sitcom. This particular family I was watching has a toddler and a set of infant twins. Needless to say, there’s a fair amount of diaper changing discussions. It’s funny to watch the parents’ reaction when there is a need for a diaper change. The parent’s know there’s a diaper change needed because in addition to the less than pleasant smell that launches an attack on their noses, the child may walk and act differently.
The mind is like a diaper. It is the dumping (pun intended- crass, I know) ground for all the words and images we allow into our ears and eyes. I can’t necessarily control all the information that I am exposed to but I can manage and monitor what goes in and more importantly what stays in my mind. Much like a dirty diaper, negative information can sit in our mind and if it’s not removed it can cause, to quote Joyce Meyer, ‘stinking thinking.’
One of my guilty pleasures is watching the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN). John has said on many occasions that I need to stop watching that stuff. I think he is concerned because there’s a significant number of shows where a woman goes over the edge, loses control and takes revenge out on someone. Typically the husband is the recipient of her rage. I would tell him, “Oh honey, it’s just entertainment.” But I started thinking – is it really just entertainment? Not to be overly spiritual but I’ve heard it said the mind is the enemy’s playground. Every negative or positive action, started as a thought. Each time I hear a news report, I’m sadden by most of what I see and hear. The senseless acts of so many, I believe, started as a thought.
To this day, I still watch a LMN movie here and there but I don’t watch nearly as much as I use to. Back in the day, I use to have Saturday movie marathons on the regular. I’ve noticed the more positive things I watch, read and listen to, the more peace and joy I experience. Please understand, it can take a tremendous amount of effort to change and much more to maintain. However, Philippians 4:13 (NIV) says I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
In my humble opinion, the world has an insatiable need to be entertained. And because much of the world is driven by the all mighty dollar, entertainment industries are willing to do whatever it takes to keep us coming back and wanting more. More foolishness = more ratings = more money. Entertainment in it of itself is fine. The problem I see is with what we find entertaining. I believe what we find entertaining is directly related to how we think.
Much like a dirty diaper, when I start speaking and acting like I don’t know Jesus, I know it’s time for a change.
FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Start the change, It’s worth it!
Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!
this Pastor’s Wife
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