Thinking about Psalm 19:14 changed my life

Psalm 19:14 —May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. * 

I often pray this to the Lord, and I really mean it when I do. Some time ago however, as I was thinking about it, I realized just how far from pleasing many of my thoughts and reflections are to Him. I began asking myself if He would be pleased with the all the books, catalogs, and the things on line that I read and looked at. I discovered that the answer to that question was "no". I now have several boxes of books that I'm getting rid of because of that. They're books that most folks wouldn't see anything at all wrong with, but that's because like me, they're looking at them with their sin nature and not their new nature. They used to be some of my most favorite sci fi books, but I'll have nothing to do with them anymore.  The Lord tells us to guard our hearts above all else and He even goes so far as to tell us how to determine what type of things we should allow into our minds and hearts.

Philippians 4:8 —Finally, brothers, 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. 

That part of the scripture that says, "whatever is true" isn't just talking about things that aren't lies, it's talking about anything at all that's contrary to His Word, for His Word is Truth. Our bodies really are temples for the Holy Spirit and God doesn't want anything in our minds or hearts that could defile us.

Like so many other people, I used to think it didn't really matter what we read, especially if it was fiction, because, after all, we knew it wasn't true. But then I remembered these verses and realized that i was very wrong.  I was simply doing what Adam and Eve had done when they sinned and all of mankind has done ever since....making excuses for myself so that I could continue to sin, because I didn't want to give up my books.

This same thing holds true for what we watch on TV, movies, videos, etc.  Even the music we listen to. Are they things that Jesus would sit and watch with you and enjoy too?  Don't answer that question on your own.  Ask the Lord, and let Him answer the question, and then abide by what He tells you.

The Lord tells us over and over that we are sanctified and we are to be growing in our faith, not sliding backwards. He tells us that we're to be separate from the world so that we won't be influenced to do things their way instead of His Way, to think their way instead of His way, etc.  That's the very sin that caused Israel to fail.  They became polluted by the world, and so are we.  If we're watching, reading, or listening to things that are sinful, but are portrayed as "normal" or good, that's wrong.  That's something the Lord tells us to guard our hearts and minds against, not to take into them.  

The Lord says we're to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.", but it's not loving, Him when our minds or hearts are contemplating things that are objectionable to Him. Instead, that's actually putting those things above Him since we know He doesn't like them. I now try to make sure that whatever I'm reading or watching, is something that He would like and approve of.  Something that will edify me and build me up in my faith, that will make Him proud of me and will bring glory to Him if or when others see me reading or watching it.

The following are a few of the other scriptures I've used since then to reflect on and to determine if what I'm allowing into my heart and mind are things the Lord wants in there.

 

Proverbs 4:23 —Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. * 

Galatians 5:9 —“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” * 

1 Corinthians 10:31 —So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. * 

Proverbs 14:8 —The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. *   

1 Corinthians 15:33 —Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 

Proverbs 13:20 —He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. 

1 Peter 4:11 —If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. *

1 Corinthians 6:20 —you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. * 

Matthew 22:37–39 —Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ *This is the first and greatest commandment. *And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ * 
Proverbs 17:4 —A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue. * 

 Psalm 141:3–4 —1 Corinthians 5:6–8 —1 Peter 3:10 —Ephesians 4:29–30 —1 Peter 4:7