Hide And Seek

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

KRISTA HAD EXPERIENCED IT ALL: drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity, and the death of her mother. Her past could have defined her future, except she decided to go on a women’s retreat. As Krista entered an empty chapel, God’s Holy Spirit swept over her so powerfully that she fell to her knees and wept a host of cleansing tears.

“Satan tried to attack me—but I fought back with obedience: attending church weekly, daily reading of God’s Word and prayer, attending a care group, tithing, and serving others. Philippians 4:8 became my stronghold, and I made sure that everything I heard, read, or watched was ‘worthy of praise.’”

Are you using obedience to fight back attacks? Are you guarding your heart and life by choosing praiseworthy activities and interests? Why obey? Psalm 103:17-18 says, “The LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (NIV).

Ask yourself, If I were introduced to Jesus at a party this week, could I brag about: What I have seen? What I have heard? What I have done?

One of the early warning signs that your choices may be off is that you feel you can’t share your choices with family members, your pastor or other spiritual leaders, or friends who love God. If you can’t be excited about your choices around them, check to see if the choice was “worthy of praise.” If you feel you have to hide something you have read, watched, or done, then confess your poor choice to God and go immediately to the person you might be hiding it from and ask for help.

Don’t play hide and seek—instead seek help and hide nothing.