What’s ringing in your ears? What’s on repeat on Spotify? What tv show are you scheduled to watch this week? What sermon are you meditating on? What scripture is flowing through your mind?

My Pastor (Tim Ross) said that when He was speaking to someone they mentioned Fox News  this and Fox News that and immediately He had a thought oh Fox News is your Rabbi. I totally understood how that conclusion could be made just from listening to her speak continuously on what Fox News shared with her (subconsciencly it was shaping the way she thought). So personally I am not someone who watches the news often and this blog post wasn’t written to tell you what not to listen to; However it is written to encourage you to be intentional about hearing the Word of God, good and pure things every chance you can.

The Bible is firm to advise us that Faith comes by hearing…! Let’s stop here for a moment and discuss what faith is.

So faith (my complete trust) comes by hearing. P E R I O D. So what should I be tuning my ear to? What should I be listening to? In this very dark World where at any giving moment I could hear an impure sexual comment, injustice statement, war, crooked politician or fear driven announcement about food being released with some unhealthy bacteria at work/school/Church/TV/Radio.

SN: I read a title of a blog where it stated that “Too much bad news can make you sick.” I disagree with this statement. Here is why: What happens to the people that work in a ‘bad news industry’ like a shelter, counseling agency, or CPS? For 40 hours one in those industries can hear a lot of bad news. I believe it’s our faith  in Christ that helps when we hear bad news. When hearing bad news that’s just a fact but what is the Truth? What does the Word of God say regarding that situation? In the Bible it informs us that we will hear about ‘rumors of wars’ (Matt 24:6) almost like it’s saying ‘hey you are going to hear ‘bad news’ but stay focused don’t be distracted, meditate on pure things.

Full circle: We can put our faith in anything we hear, that’s why I’m thankful Paul left us with some guidance in Romans 10:17 ‘Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God’. When we hear things on a day to day basis if we are not careful and use discernement we can begin to meditate on things that eat away at our soul. Words we hear can easily become our truth if we are not making an intentional decision to take thoughts captive and make them obey Christ (2 Cor 10:5). But how would one know what thoughts to take captive? That’s easy! The ones that don’t add up with God’s Word, the truth in the Bible and the Words the Holy Spirit speaks to us (which aligns with the Bible).

#HeartCheck101 What are you listening to? What’s playing in your earlobes that the Devil will use to distract you and pull you away from our God. That’s  been the Devil’s aim when causing words to be spoken/sung/rapped contrary to His word. Remember this scripture ‘life and death is in the power of the tongue.. and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.’ Proverbs 18:21 You wouldn’t intentionally eat something that’s poisoned right? So why speak poison or allow yourself to meditate on it? Fight that spoken poison that enters your ears with the Word of God and most importantly do your best to be careful what you tune your ears to hear and meditate on pure things to the best of your ability.

I hope this blesses everyone who reads is and encourages you all to continue (or become) Intentional about what you listen to.