From a Mother's Heart to Her Daughters
Girls, the next 5 words may be the wisest words I could pass on to you. I ashamedly know these words all too well...
Every Sin Begins With a Thought.
Jentezen Franklin has really nailed this thought in his book "The Spirit of Python: Exposing Satan's Plan to Squeeze the Life out of You". That's what sin does...it takes parts of your life away from you, it can even take your life.
Satan has been referenced as a snake in the Bible. In Genesis, the serpent (satan) persuaded Eve to sin and satan is no different today. As a snake lays eggs to hatch more of its kind, so too does satan lay eggs in our life to keep us from what God created us to do. Whether though another person, media, music or whatever, we see, we like, we want. Sometimes this can be used to produce good in our life. Sometimes it only produces something bad in our life.
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. ~ James 1:15
The greatest battle for your soul is not the war going on between angels and demons; it is the war going on between your ears. The battle starts with how you think and the "snake eggs" you allow the enemy to lay in your head." ~Jentezen Franklin, The Spirit of Python
What you allow your eyes to see, your ears to hear, your mouth to speak effects your being. It effects your atmosphere. It flows into your living.
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ~ Luke 6:35 (RSV)
We allow images or thoughts to take over our mind because we think it will make us happy or fulfill a desire. The constant thinking on these things, be it good or bad, will eventually work its way into our heart.
The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, then you have the worst darkness. ~ Matt 6:22-23 (NCV)
Eventually these images or thoughts becomes an action. Satan can convince you that it (the imagine or the thought) is good for you. Maybe its the thought of a relationship with someone, a party to go to, whatever it is, the more you think about it, the more satan will feed into it if it is wrong for you.
The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. 5 We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. ~ 2 Cor 10:4-5 (The Voice)
You have to make it a habit to measure your thoughts against Christ or his Word to know if it is something you should allow into your life. You can't control every thought that comes into your mind but you can control how long you dwell on it.
Don't let stans eggs be planted!! Don't let the things of this world influence you away from the things of God. In his book, Jentezen reminds us that the devil works like a python to restrict your growth and limit your influence. When a python squeezes its victim, not only does the breath stop but its movement is also completely restricted
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Anchor your heart and your mind in Christ. It is your only protection against the python!
I love you!!
