Let’s Dance: Leading My Thoughts – Monday
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion. (NIV)
In his book Eyes of Integrity, Graig Gross argues that the battle with sexual immorality (and other sins) commences in the mind. This resonates with my experience and perhaps yours.
He shares the following personal anecdote:
“It was spring break in New Orleans; the streets were packed with college-age partiers, and debauchery had reached a peak. My friend Donald and I had never seen such an insanely raucous street party. After a few minutes of the madness swirling around us, we both knew we needed to get out. The smell of alcohol was everywhere, and high above street level, scantily clad women were dancing and flashing the crowd below. Spontaneous applause and cheers erupted in every direction every few seconds.
Waiting for a cab, I was torn as thoughts of these women flooded my mind. I wondered who they might be and what their stories were. I also thought of my little girl at home and wondered if any dads knew their little girls were here dancing. But while part of me wanted to pray for them, another part wanted me to participate in the revelry. I was engulfed in a war between conscience and conviction and the allure of all the sights and sounds.
Waiting for a cab, I was shocked as the pull of immorality accelerated in my mind. I found myself wanting to engage in it, but in my spirit, I chose to reject all the lies in my mind. “Take every thought captive,” the apostle Paul declared…Why? He knew the mind was the root issue, the systematic cause of all moral failures. It’s the genesis of the process of every action we take. On this day I won. I got in the cab, and as we drove away, I thanked God for His faithfulness and for providing “a way of escape.” (1 Corinthians 10:13). [paraphrased pp.45-49]
Monday’s Reflection
Does any part of that story resonate with you? Yeah, me too. We all have secrets that keep us from being vulnerable and free. We postulate that the risk of coming clean is too great. Dear one, that’s a lie from the pit that smells like smoke. Healing begins with confession, which leads to authenticity, wholeness, and freedom. Ask yourself today, “Is my current mental state of affairs where I want to abide, or can I, with God’s help, win this battle for my mind?” You won’t know till you try, will you? Here’s a link to one of my favorite passages. I challenge you to read it every day this week.
