Are You Being Tempted? (2)

'...Your life is shaped by your thoughts.' Proverbs 4:23 GNT
On our way to the office this morning I knew we had to make a stop at Yokes for stamps to mail some post cards to you guys for our continental breakfast Sunday. Do you know what crept into my thought pattern? Yokes has such fine donuts you deserve one. Sorry to say that was one fine apple fritter....I'll get to a good point here soon. Ever watch a food commercial on television and suddenly feel hungry? That's the power of suggestion. Whatever can grab your attention can capture you. Simply repeating, 'I must stop drinking, or smoking, or overeating, or lusting,' doesn't work because it just keeps you thinking about what you don't want. Instead of trying to remove those thoughts, replace them. Once your focus is on something good, that thought or thing begins to lose its grip. Only by reprogramming your mind can you keep it centered on the right things. The Bible says: 'Don't let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good.' (Romans 12:21 TLB) Satan can't get and keep your attention when your mind is given to something else. That's why Paul writes: '...Fill your minds with...good...' (Philippians 4:8 GNT) Fighting a thought is futile; it only strengthens the connection between you and it. By dwelling on it you actually reinforce it. Hit the remote; change the channel! Furthermore, you don't overcome temptation by fighting the feeling of it. The more you fight a feeling, the more it engages and draws you. Turn your attention to something better! Your mind is where the battle is won or lost. Start managing your mind and monitoring your media intake. The Bible says, 'Your life is shaped by your thoughts.' The Psalmist prayed, 'Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless...' (Psalm 119:37 GNT) Is this easy to do? No, it takes discipline and practice. But with time, and God's grace, you can change the way you think and overcome temptation. (By the way I lost to a donut this morning.) It's just a donut. But it could be just? For you? You are loved!