Beware of Entertaining the Enemy with Just a Thought

There are some places we just shouldn’t go – it’s too dangerous.

I remember a visit I made to New York City, I spent my days walking and seeing sights in Manhattan, while my friend worked. I had a map – hand held, paper made, in the dinosaur years before cell phones – but, still, I was lost. I knew which direction I needed to go, but I wasn’t quite sure of my location.

 

I felt small and scared, standing on a street between fifty story plus sky-scrapers. A shadowed alley stood before me and I just knew that on the other end of that alley I would find my bearings.

The alley was barely wide enough for a single car, garbage bins littered the area and non-descript back doors appeared humble compared to the tinted windows of the skyscrapers looming above them.

I stretched myself to my almost six foot height, put on my mean girl look, took the longest strides my 36 inseam could manage – and did a part run through the length of that alley. I saw some men I didn’t want to stop and chat with, but thankfully, they didn’t stop to chat, either.

We’ve all gone to dangerous places.

There is one such place I wonder why I keep returning to. I ignore the warning bells going off in my head – I ignore the churning in my gut – I ignore the panic rising from deep within.

I went there again this past week. 

For me it’s a place you may not expect – it’s in my head. Yesterday I willingly visited – ‘Shame’.

All in my mind. All in my thoughts. It sounded something like this ‘Why did you do that? That was stupid!”

Just eight small words. No. Big. Deal.

Wrong. Our thoughts and our minds are powerful. One of the big lies the enemy tells us is that our thoughts don’t matter. It’s just a thought.

The enemy wants me to think spiritual warfare occurs over great theological matters – ones he encourages me to argue and debate. Or behavioral issues that he warns me I should come out against. I think the spiritual battle happens in our thoughts.

Our thought life produces something and it isn’t always life.

I try to fool myself – ‘It’s just a thought! It doesn’t matter. It can’t hurt me.’.

The enemy camp is dangerous, I go there when I visit with: shame, judgement, lust, discontent, or self bitterness. 

Have you ever entertained the enemy – with just a thought?

“Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”  – Matthew 9:4

Jesus understands the danger of our thoughts.

A wise spiritual mentor of mine explained to me “You’re the gatekeeper for your mind. You choose what you allow in and what you fill your mind with. Be wise.”

Guard your gates.

I am the gatekeeper – I choose who gets in the door. Do I want to entertain guilt or dissatisfaction today? Or do I want to entertain a grateful spirit? I’m the host, I choose the guest list.

Choose carefully what thoughts you entertain.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

– Proverbs 23:7

**Lord, forgive me, I’ve gone down dark alleys with my thoughts, I’ve visited – shame, self bitterness, envy/comparison. I invite You to lead me out – redeem my thoughts – teach me to guard my thoughts that I may follow Your righteous ways.

Linking up with Lyli’s FaithonFire,  #thisdaygodsway

Photo Credit to Unsplash – (feature image – Nadia Valko, skyscraper – Mihail Rihkin, vase – Allie Smith).