From Corey Shonborn

age 21

As a Christian, we will sing songs like “I see your face, You’re beautiful.” But do you really see His face or is your attention fixed on something or somebody else? Lots of things can cloud our vision and thoughts. These obstructions block you from seeing the very prize of your eye!

A year ago I saw the Media Talk 101 presentation. The presentation shows how the media we subject ourselves to can really influence our lives and the way we think. It blew me away. The things we listen to, the things we watch… it’s not just entertainment? After watching the presentation I had committed myself to fasting from television, music that didn’t glorify God, and even Facebook!

I think it’s ironic when people complain that they don’t see God moving, His Holy Spirit working, when they are submerged in a pool of toxic influences. As I fasted, and as I do even now, I could notice that thinking about God became a lot easier. Does anyone ever think that it’s hard to set your thoughts on God? You really have to focus to keep thinking about Him, talking to Him. Do you want to see God? Do you want to hear Him?

Clear your mind of trash. It becomes a lot easier to be heavenly minded when your head isn’t full of cuss words, lusty thoughts, and other useless information. I like how in Jeremiah 12:3-4 there is a sort of intensity about it, which really drives it home.

“Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished.”

We must learn to take our thoughts captive. The land is our minds, the wicked are the thoughts we succumb to. It’s not just entertainment. When you watch that show, you are thinking about that show. It does influence you. Think about Jersey Shore. I’ve heard so much about this show, but never watched a single episode. Now there are Jersey Shore prom themes at some schools. Girls want to be like the characters. Youth groups are now doing messages about this show and trying to combat it. We have become a society, no, a world, numb to filth.

There is a very real war going on right now, whether you want to be aware of it or not.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

We are being fed garbage, through the news, the TV shows, the songs we listen to, the magazines we look at, the movies we watch. I implore you to fast from these poisonous influences, whatever is in your power. Just start by shutting off the TV, read the bible a little bit each day, set aside a time of prayer. I can promise you, with diligence, open mind, heart, and soul, God won’t seem so far away.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Identify and reject the lies, reject anything that is not from God. Replace the lies with the truth!