What Are You Feeding Your Mind?

A lot of crazy weather yesterday, Father! Thank You for keeping us safe in the midst of it all. Great comfort is found in Your presence in the storms of life and in peaceful times as well.

Mark 7:14-23 (<<click to read the passage)

Growing up we really didn’t worry too much about what we ate. Oh, we weren’t allowed to have just ice cream or candy but for the most part, we ate and enjoyed what was set before us. Now I realize that things may have been a bit more homegrown and not nearly as processed then as now but I truly think the Pharisees have nothing on us when it comes to obsessing over what and how we eat!

In a lot of ways, it has become a religion in and of itself! There are so many things that so many people won’t eat – fats, carbs, etc. Then there are those who are gluten-free, vegetarians and vegans. We are overly fixated on so many things. Some legitimately so for verified health reasons but others it is just a fad or something else upon in which to lose ourselves.

Now for sure, there is nothing wrong with a healthy diet and truly we consume way too many things that are in reality not good for us. But the question we need to address, as my Life Application Study Bible suggests, is are we as stringent about what we put into our minds through reading and watching television – and I would add the music to which we listen?

The Pharisees’ obsessions with what and how they ate had no bearing whatsoever on their relationship with God – Jesus set that straight. The problem for them – and us – has more to do with mindsets and thought processes. As He said in verses 20-23,

“Whatever comes from [the heart of] a man, that is what defiles and dishonors him. For from within, [that is] out the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, acts of greed and covetousness, wickedness, deceit, unrestrained conduct, envy and jealousy, slander and profanity, arrogance and self-righteousness and foolishness (poor judgment). All these evil things [schemes and desires] come from within and defile and dishonor the man.” _AMP

Lord Jesus, help us to not neglect the care of our bodies but we all know that they are but earthen vessels and will eventually fall to decay. More importantly, let us not neglect our souls. May we be diligent and watchful as to what we allow to feed and nourish them. Amen.

Apr 15^th, 2019, Mon, 10:27 am