WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 15, 2022
TOPIC: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU READ, WATCH, AND LISTEN TO
BY T. O. BANSO
âFor 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 manâ (Matthew 15:19-20 New King James Version).
We live in the information age. So much information is being made available to us through the radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and books. There are all kinds of audio and video materials containing all forms of information, not to talk of the internet through which one can easily access diverse resources from different parts of the world.
The volume of information, both positive and negative, that is available and accessible by human beings in the contemporary world is unprecedented. It is relatively inexpensive to get and even own the means of accessing the large information being disseminated by all manners of people. Thus, it is extremely dangerous and destructive if one is not selective about the kind of information one exposes oneâs mind to.
A human being is largely a product of what he or she reads, watches, and listens to. If someone feeds his or her mind with unedifying information through unwholesome music and literature, such a personâs life cannot be better than these pieces of information â garbage in, garbage out. You become what you habitually read, watch, and listen to. Donât say, âIâm only using it for relaxation.â Your mind does not know that. It doesnât discriminate. 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, âTake heed what you hearâ (Mark 4:24a New King James Version). He said again âTake heed how you hearâ (Luke 8:18a New King James Version). Donât listen to just any music. Donât watch just any film or movie.
Donât 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. If you patronize them, your mind will be put in bondage and youâll regret it later. âKeep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of lifeâ (Proverbs 4:23 New King James Version). Keep watch over your heart more than any precious thing; guard it.
Beware of demonic doctrines; don’t let them pollute or contaminate you. We now have the church of Satan! Revelation 2:24 says, âNow to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burdenâ (New King James Version).
Donât say, âit doesnât matterâ what you read, watch, or listen to. It matters. Be selective and guided by the Word of God. Refrain from what the Bible forbids. âFinally, 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 â meditate on these thingsâ (Philippians 4:8 New King James Version).
Donât rationalize that you just want to satisfy your curiosity but you donât intend to practise what you learn. Itâs a lie. Thatâs dangerous! Satan doesnât 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 âpoisonâ from those junk movies, music, magazines, and books or the life-giving words from the Bible and Bible-based materials.
Jesus said, âFor 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 manâ (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 determine greatly the type of future youâll have. You must see as the devilâs instrument against your destiny any writer, musician, or artist who trivializes, 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 Iâve said, you will become what you continue to read, watch, and listen to. If youâve 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 and watch and listen to other things, not necessarily sermons, but be sure they are edifying, godly, and not anti-Bible. Donât let the devil deceive you that the Bible is boring or outdated. Donât let him seduce you to feed secretly on demonic videos, cartons, satanic books, etc. Many lives have been ruined this way.
Parents, in particular, need to be more interested in what their children read, watch, and listen to, especially on their mobile phones to ensure that they are materials that are not contrary to the Word of God. They should teach their children online safety and security practices. They could also track their childrenâs 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 exposed their minds to, especially on the internet. Satan has negatively influenced them. They need help. Your children shall be taught by the Lord, not the world, and great shall be their peace in Jesus’ name (Isaiah 54:13).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to 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 â your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching 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 surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him 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 will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area 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 Jesusâ name. My children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be their peace in Jesusâ name. I pray that all those who are addicted to unedifying materials, including pornography, shall be delivered and their destinies redeemed in Jesusâ name.
(For over 800 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.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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