Reimagine

Satan’s very nature is rebellious. His goal is to make us like him: rebellious and turned from God. He accomplishes this in many ways, but all of them are meant to occupy our thoughts, setting our minds on anything other than having our eyes set upon God. When we worry, we are meditating on our problem. When we are hurt, we think about that situation and the person who hurt us. When we are angry, we think about how we were wronged. If you are critical of yourself, or base your identity on what your spouse, family members, or friends think about you, this can be your primary focus. If we are offended, feel rejected, or have unforgiveness, especially over a long period of time, a root of bitterness sets in. A root of bitterness is created from replaying over and over in your mind a situation that deeply hurt you, in which you have unforgiveness. This can be difficult to heal—not impossible but difficult.

When the root of a tree becomes diseased, you cannot see it but you know there is something wrong because of the way the rest of the tree looks. The tree may not produce as many leaves. The bark of the tree might appear to be unhealthy. If it is a fruit tree, the fruit might show signs of disease or taste funny. The same goes for a person who has a bitter root. The person’s fruit might seem okay from a distance, but on closer inspection is not good. The person can be passive-aggressive, critical, angry, manipulative, and judgmental.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Hebrews 12:15 NLT)

Bitterness causes a person to be stuck in a negative mindset towards others and themselves. Again, this inhibits meditating on Jesus, scripture, and God’s plan for your life.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. (Psalm 73:21 NLT)

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2 NKJV)

Other things that occupy our minds may not even seem harmful but still distract us from God or lead to other problems. All forms of entertainment are prime examples. This includes sports, movies, concerts, bars, clubs, video games, shopping, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and cell phones, just to name a few. It is not only the time that is spent engaged in these activities, but also what is being fed to you through your eyes. Most of the entertainment today is sexualized, feeding the carnal person.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 NKJV)

How can Netflix, shopping, video games, or any other entertainment lead to death? For the unbeliever, it is a distraction from Jesus. The worldly hate Christ and seek the riches and pleasures this world has to offer. This path leads to death because the unbelievers choose the world and reject Jesus. For believers, the world’s entertainment and pleasures draw them into the world instead of draw them to Jesus and heavenly things. Sometimes, worldly activity can become an idol. Anything in our lives that we desire more than God is idol worship, and the thing is considered a god.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3 NKJV)

If you are already a follower of Jesus, ask yourself, “Do I desire this thing (whatever it might be) more than I desire Jesus?” Would you be willing to give up your weekly or nightly television show for an opportunity to grow closer to Him? How much are you willing to give up for the One who gave everything up for you? If you give Him your heart and time, it will be the greatest relationship of your life.