April 14, 2015
Heart disease has been directly linked to diet, but there is another form of heart disease indicative of something far more serious.
“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” (Matthew 15.17-20)
Physical heart health is dependent upon such things as proper diet and exercise, but spiritual heart health is directly linked to thoughts. What we think resides in the heart, considered in biblical times to be the center of life energy. Just as diet and exercise impact physical health, how we think impacts how we live. "as he thinks within himself, so he is." (Proverbs 23:7) And, if our inner thought life is filled with evil thoughts, it is inevitable that evil deeds will eventually result.
We live in a time when there is increasing awareness of the impact of diet and exercise on physical health. Sadly, there seems to be little awareness of the impact of our thought life on spiritual health. We cannot fill up our time with worldly entertainment and expect God-pleasing results! It’s about like watering a garden with salt brine and expecting a healthy crop. The computer adage, “Garbage in, garbage out," is applicable.
Lest I be mistaken for the epitome of spiritual health, I’ll be the first to admit that the battle for my mind is a very real one. A simple time study reveals more leisure time spent in front of a television and not enough time in scripture and helpful Christian literature. The siren call of the world’s entertainment easily appeals more than the demands of mental spiritual discipline.
A man who fell into the bad habit of one fast food meal a day faced his day of reckoning in front of a bathroom scale. Having gained twenty-five pounds in a few weeks, he faced the reality that he would either have to walk six hours a day to offset his caloric indulgence, or restrict his diet. The choice was not easy. Similar choices need to be made be all who wish to live godly lives. Do I live delusionally believing I can be a spiritual giant while mentally feasting on the world’s junk food, or do I face the reality that my mental preoccupation must be the word of God and its principles?
We daily are engaged in a battle for the mind, and knowing that it is a battle reminds us that it is not easy. When we honestly face the facts as to what we do with our discretionary time, we have taken a huge step in the right direction. And then, as we cooperate with the inner Spirit of God, the battle becomes winnable as we join forces with that dynamic Spirit.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” (Matthew 15.17-20)
Physical heart health is dependent upon such things as proper diet and exercise, but spiritual heart health is directly linked to thoughts. What we think resides in the heart, considered in biblical times to be the center of life energy. Just as diet and exercise impact physical health, how we think impacts how we live. "as he thinks within himself, so he is." (Proverbs 23:7) And, if our inner thought life is filled with evil thoughts, it is inevitable that evil deeds will eventually result.
We live in a time when there is increasing awareness of the impact of diet and exercise on physical health. Sadly, there seems to be little awareness of the impact of our thought life on spiritual health. We cannot fill up our time with worldly entertainment and expect God-pleasing results! It’s about like watering a garden with salt brine and expecting a healthy crop. The computer adage, “Garbage in, garbage out," is applicable.
Lest I be mistaken for the epitome of spiritual health, I’ll be the first to admit that the battle for my mind is a very real one. A simple time study reveals more leisure time spent in front of a television and not enough time in scripture and helpful Christian literature. The siren call of the world’s entertainment easily appeals more than the demands of mental spiritual discipline.
A man who fell into the bad habit of one fast food meal a day faced his day of reckoning in front of a bathroom scale. Having gained twenty-five pounds in a few weeks, he faced the reality that he would either have to walk six hours a day to offset his caloric indulgence, or restrict his diet. The choice was not easy. Similar choices need to be made be all who wish to live godly lives. Do I live delusionally believing I can be a spiritual giant while mentally feasting on the world’s junk food, or do I face the reality that my mental preoccupation must be the word of God and its principles?
We daily are engaged in a battle for the mind, and knowing that it is a battle reminds us that it is not easy. When we honestly face the facts as to what we do with our discretionary time, we have taken a huge step in the right direction. And then, as we cooperate with the inner Spirit of God, the battle becomes winnable as we join forces with that dynamic Spirit.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 9:15 AM
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