Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. The heart is where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. Proverbs 4:23-27
As I was spending time with the Lord in the Word the other morning, I remembered a time a few years back when my friend's son was little. I'll come as close as I can to remembering the story right.
He had a computer that he used a lot and my friend was concerned about the things he might be exposed to. One day, she came in, sat down at the computer, and typed one little suggestive word on the keyboard, just to see what might come up. She said that the thing went crazy, pulling up all kinds of websites, tons of pop ups and instant messaging some of the vilest things she had ever seen. She tried everything she could to get the things to close, but the more she tried to 'x' out the more popped up. She wondered how all this could come from one little word. It had grown so vast, she could no longer control it or get rid of it.
Panicked, she sat on the floor crying and called out for her husband. He ran in and asked what was wrong, and as she tried through the tears to explain what happened, he ran to the outlet and just pulled the plug on the computer.
She was frustrated and angry that the world could have that much influence over her son with just typing one word.
Though she pled the Blood of Jesus over her mind and cast down the thoughts and visuals when they came to mind, she just couldn't get some of the pictures off her mind. She imagined what it must be like for a young, vulnerable, inquistitive child.
The Lord instructed my friend to pray the Psalm below every day for a month after this situation happened.
Psalm 101
I will sing of Your love and justice: to You, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will You come to me?
I will walk in my house with a blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes no vile thing.
The deeds of the faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence.
Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
He whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;
No one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.
Guard your heart from compromise people. We need to be careful of the sin that we let creep in. The things that we think are no big deal or just this one time. The things that we watch on TV. The things that we listen to on the radio - the music with suggestive words. The tweets that we read and send. The billboards that we see. All the tings that we think are okay or seem so innocent. All that we put through our eye gates and ears affects our soul, in one way or another. One thing usually leads to another.
Be careful what you put before you.
Prayer: Father, I pray that you guard our eyes, hearts and spirits. Protect us and our families from things that we shouldn't see, divinely if You have to. Lead us not into temptation. Strengthen us according to Your Word, that we might not sin against you. May we not compromise. Help us to just say no. In Jesus' name, amen.