Preaching to Myself (you're welcome to listen in)

My mind is tangled
Or isn't it?
I must, MUST give my whole mind to Jesus
Or must I?
He doesn't need my mind
Does He?
So, why should I
Give
What is so
Precious?

God is
Strange
That way.
When you
Give
Him what's yours
He takes it,
Cleans it,
Strengthens it,
Loves it,
And gives it back.

When God
Gives back what you
Gave to Him
He doesn't just
Throw it
At you.
He hands it to you and then
He walks with you
To make sure everything continues to
Run
Smoothly.

So, I will
Give
My mind to
Jesus
All of it.
My whole mind.
No holding back
Any of it.
But it's not going to be easy, it's hard to let go.
It's hard to let go.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6 "And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete."
We DO fight a war, it is a mind war. Not a war of flesh and blood, but spiritual and mental. We must fight against anything that does not line up with the knowledge of God, and we must turn our thoughts toward Christ.
For me this means, mostly TV. Ugh. I like to watch TV. One of the things I've heard people say the most is: well I watch TV because after a long hard day at work I just want to turn my mind off. So, I watch TV to wind down.
YIKES!! Okay certain pre-aproved (when you are more alert) movies, but TV? Anything can happen on TV and might you not even realize what you are watching. Wouldn't it be better to wind down rereading the same scripture verse over and over? Don't make yourself feel guilty with the "how dare you fall asleep reading God's word, is God boring to you?"
Nope, God is peaceful. Psalm 4:8 says:
"I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety."
So why not meditate on that? And fall asleep to sound of His voice (in a manner of speaking)? It's better than letting your mind wind down to "American Idol," who's very name smacks of sin (the "idol" part, in case you were wondering). American Idol happens to be one of my weaknesses.
Or how 'bout falling asleep to the, and I quote, "Now, sexier than ever 'Dancing with the Stars!!'" Or letting your mind wind down and meditate on "Love: is four letter word" in which two divorce lawyers get married after having an intimate relationship?
So, when did all this happen that I started excusing sin in my life and allowing myself to enjoy watching raunchy trash? What happened?
Well, that was some serious confessing I guess James 5:16 is appropriate:
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Please pray for me.
Pray that I would be able to just completely stop watching TV and replace it with Christ-like material.
Pray for my attitude to humble toward my family.
Pray that I would be able to act boldly in this matter of my mind and fight this war with "divine power to demolish strongholds." Leaning not on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledging Him, I know He will make straights paths for my feet. (Proverbs 3:6)

Hebrews 12:2-6
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
"MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
6FOR THOSE HOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."