Protect your temple

Let's open with a Bible verse. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. It says:

 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

If you Google the word temple, this definition will come up: a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence. I always wondered why the Bible said we were temples, but now it makes sense to me. We (our bodies) should be devoted to worshipping God, and if you are have accepted Jesus Christ, your body is where the Holy Spirit dwells/lives. When we accept(ed) Christ, the Holy Spirit came to reside in us. Let's look at another verse regarding this matter. Matthew 6:22-23 goes on to say:

22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

The verses above talk about being watchful and cognizant of what we allow our eyes to see because there are costs that come with it. Let me give you an example. Have you ever watched a scary movie, and couldn't stop thinking about it? After watching it, do the scary parts ever replay over and over in your mind? For me it's terrifying and I choose not to watch scary movies anymore because of this. It takes weeks for me to stop thinking about it. That is why it is important for us to protect our temples. Not just what we see, but we also need to be cautious of what we hear and think. Focusing on unhealthy things can be poisonous to our souls. Just as we would protect our children, and monitor what they hear and see, we ought to protect ourselves in the same way. God also wants to protect us and that is why He gives us these Bible verses.

Just as we watch or hear something heartfelt can make us smile, cry, or warm our heart, viewing something disturbing can also harmfully impact us. Something as minor as a magazine can be poisonous. I remember feeling very comfortable with myself up until 7th grade. I was naive to fashion trends, beauty advice, and was very content with myself. Then, I started following singers that I liked, and started looking at my sister's magazines. I became so immersed with the celebrities, and obsessed with their clothes, accessories, bodies, faces, and hair. Pretty soon I wanted to look like them. I coveted what they had so much that I started hating and rejecting myself. The self-hate got so out of control that I didn't even want to look in a mirror anymore; I despised myself. My desire to look like them eventually killed my self-esteem, destroyed any self-love I had, and stole my joy. The negative thoughts and self-talk made me miserable and depressed. It was many years of ups and downs, a constant up roller coaster ride that I just had to stop looking at magazines and anything affiliated with beauty, fashion, and celebrities. It wasn't until a few months ago that I was truly able to love and accept myself. You can read more about it in the post called Love Yourself.

We have to be careful about the things we let into our heart, mind, and thoughts. Not everything out there is healthy for us, and just because it's there doesn't mean we ought to digest it. We don't have to willingly expose ourselves to junk. If you are seeing, thinking, or hearing things that are making you uncomfortable, get out of the situation. Listen to your gut, or it may be the Holy Spirit prompting you, telling you that what you are about to take in is destructive.

Pornography is also very hazardous. I remember finding and viewing a Playboy magazine at a very young age, and it had such a negative impact on me--poison or pollution is about the only way I can describe it. This is something in my life that has taken years to heal through, but God is faithful. This is about as much as I can say on this topic for now, because I could write a whole book about how unhealthy or harmful it is. I just want to point out that, like to scary movies that I referenced above, the images of porn are toxic and can also make lasting toxic impressions on the mind. Inquire of God to help you as it will most likely require God's Holy Spirit to cleanse your mind to be free of the images. This is a very serious issue, that society has deemed acceptable, but if you or someone you know struggle with this, please reach out and get help. We should not be surprised that the devil would take something God created between a husband and wife, and pervert it. 

Let's look at one last verse. Matthew 5:29-30 says if your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell. Jesus was very serious about this concept. Sin, or things leading into sin is not something we ought to mess around with, just as we not ought to play with fire. I don't believe we should take this verse literally; however, Jesus was making a point and wanted to emphasize how dangerous sin is. Ask God to show you if there are things you're doing, watching, hearing, or thinking that is detrimental to you and your well-being. He wants to help you and set you free.

Let's pray.

 Father God,

Thank you for your Holy Spirit, and allowing him to dwell within us as believers. Help us to heed your word and to not allow ourselves to watch, do, hear, and think about things which are not healthy for us or conducive to our spiritual growth. Our desire is to know You more, to cultivate a close and meaningful relationship with You. Please show us and warn us when there are things that are not healthy for us. Just as we would shield our children, You want to shield us. Teach us how to protect our temples, to refuse to ingest anything harmful to our minds, body, and soul. Lead us to do things which are favorable and beneficial to us. Help us to be good stewards of our bodies and temples. Guide us in all that we see, think, hear, and do. Lord, we worship You and praise You. It is our desire to please You and to follow Your ways; please walk with us and enable us to do so. In Jesus' name, amen.

Prayerfully,

Pam