WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 28, 2026
TOPIC: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU READ, WATCH, AND LISTEN TO
BY T. O. BANSO
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20 New King James Version).
We live in the information age. Abundant information is being made available to us through the mass media and books. There are different audio and video materials containing all forms of information, not to mention the internet, through which one can easily access diverse resources from various parts of the world.
The volume of information, both positive and negative, that is available and accessible to human beings in the contemporary world is unprecedented. It is inexpensive to get and even own the means of accessing the large amount of information being disseminated by all manner of people. Thus, it is extremely dangerous and destructive if one is not selective about the kind of information one allows into one’s mind.
Human beings are largely a product of what they read, watch, and listen to. If someone feeds his or her mind with unedifying information through unwholesome music and literature, such a person’s life cannot be better than these pieces of information – garbage in, garbage out. You become what you habitually read, watch, and listen to. Don’t say, “I’m only using it for relaxation.” Your mind does not know that. It doesn’t discriminate against any information. It will process any information you take in.
Your life will be shaped by the information you allow into your mind, which it will process. Jesus said in Mark 4:24, “Take heed what you hear” (New King James Version). He also said in Luke 8:18, “Take heed how you hear” (New King James Version). Don’t listen to just any music. Don’t watch just any film or movie.
Don’t read just any book or magazine. There are books on occultism, Satan’s mysteries, and ungodly fiction that are becoming attractive to young people nowadays. These publications, as well as occult video games, appear harmless, but if you patronise them, your mind will be put in bondage, and you’ll regret it later. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 New King James Version). Watch over your heart more than any precious thing; guard it.
Beware of demonic doctrines; don’t let them pollute or contaminate you. In Acts 19, some new believers burnt their magic books because they knew they would be unhelpful to their new life in Christ. “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:19 English Standard Version). The New Living Translation says the value of the books was several million dollars.
Don’t say that it doesn’t matter what you read, watch, or listen to. It matters. Be selective and guided by the Word of God. Refrain from what the Bible forbids. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8 New King James Version).
Don’t rationalise that you only want to satisfy your curiosity and don’t intend to practise what you learn. It’s a lie. That’s dangerous! Satan doesn’t discriminate like that. You bring yourself under the control of anything bad you repeatedly read, watch, or listen to. Whatever you meditate upon will eventually be magnified, whether it is the ‘poison’ from those junk movies, music, magazines, and books, or the life-giving words from the Bible and Bible-based materials.
Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20 New King James Version). Be careful!
The future God has planned for you is a glorious one (Jeremiah 29:11). However, what you consistently read, watch, and listen to will greatly determine the type of future you’ll have. You must see as the devil’s instrument against your destiny any writer, musician, or artist who trivialises, mocks, or encourages you to violate the Word of God, no matter how popular he or she is. Don’t let ungodly social media influencers influence you with their demonic ideas or information online. They are agents of the devil.
As I’ve said, you will become what you continue to read, watch, and listen to. If you’ve been feeding your minds on ungodly or satanic materials, you need to repent now to avert a sorrowful future on earth and, after death, in hellfire.
Let the Bible be the most important book to you. You may read other books or watch and listen to other things, not necessarily sermons, but be sure they are edifying, godly, and not against the Bible. Don’t let the devil deceive you into thinking that the Bible is boring or outdated. Don’t let him seduce you to feed secretly on demonic videos, cartons, satanic books, etc. Many lives have been ruined this way.
Parents need to be more interested in what their children read, watch, and listen to, especially on their mobile phones, to ensure that the materials are not contrary to the Word of God. They should teach their children online safety and security practices. They could also track their children’s online activities by using parental control apps.
Parents should not allow their kids to own phones until they have reached a certain age to prevent wrong influences. Although both the young and the old can be victims of the corrupting influences of unwholesome information on the internet, kids are more vulnerable. Many children and youths today have sold themselves to Satan through the different resources they have been exposed to, especially on the internet. Satan has negatively influenced them. They need help. The world will not teach your children; the Lord will teach them, and their peace shall be great, in Jesus’ name (Isaiah 54:13).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life—your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I reject every temptation of Satan to read, watch, and listen to anything sinful. My children will not be victims of the corrupting influences of unwholesome information, especially online. Their destinies will not be destroyed by what they read, watch, or listen to in Jesus’ name. My children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace, in Jesus’ name. I pray that all those who are addicted to unedifying materials, including pornography, shall be delivered and their destinies redeemed, in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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