Guarding Your Eyes: Feeding Your Heart with Good Things

What Are Your Eyes Feasting On?

Our eyes are a gateway to our hearts, minds, and souls. What we see can have a profound impact on our thoughts, emotions, and actions. The Bible teaches us to guard our hearts and minds, and one way to do that is to be mindful of what we allow our eyes to feast on.

As Christians, we are called to live in the world but not be of the world (John 17:14-18). This means that we need to be intentional about what we allow into our hearts and minds through our eyes. We need to be vigilant about what we watch, read, and scroll through on social media.

Jesus warns us that our eyes are like lamps, and what we allow them to focus on can either fill us with light or darkness (Matthew 6:22-23). If we constantly feed our eyes with darkness, it will eventually seep into our hearts and minds, affecting our beliefs and actions.

The Power of Visual Media

Today, we live in a world where we are bombarded with visual media. We have access to an endless stream of images and videos that can be accessed with just a few clicks of a button. While some of this media can be uplifting and inspiring, much of it is not. In fact, a lot of what is available online is downright destructive.

One of the most harmful forms of visual media is pornography. Pornography is a multi-billion-dollar industry that is destroying lives, relationships, and families. It is not just a problem for unbelievers; it is also an issue among Christians. According to a survey by the Barna Group, 57% of Christian men and 13% of Christian women view pornography at least once a month.

But pornography is not the only harmful form of visual media. We are also constantly bombarded with images and videos that promote materialism, violence, and immorality. We see images of celebrities flaunting their wealth and possessions, glorification of violence in movies and video games, and sexualized images in advertisements and on social media.

It is no wonder that depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are on the rise. Our eyes are being fed a steady diet of negativity, violence, and sexualization, and it is taking a toll on our emotional and mental well-being.

Feed Your Eyes with Good Things

So, what can we do to guard our hearts and minds from the negative impact of visual media? The answer is simple: we need to be intentional about what we allow our eyes to feast on. We need to be mindful of the things we watch, read, and scroll through on social media.

Instead of allowing our eyes to feast on darkness, we need to feed them with good things. The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). When we focus on Jesus, we are filling our hearts and minds with truth, love, and grace.

We also need to surround ourselves with positive influences. This can include reading uplifting books, listening to Christian music, and following social media accounts that promote positivity and encouragement. We need to be intentional about the people we surround ourselves with and the media we allow into our lives.

The Importance of Accountability

Accountability is also crucial when it comes to guarding our eyes. We need to be accountable to someone who can help us stay on track and keep us from falling into temptation.

One way to do this is to have an accountability partner. This can be a trusted friend, family member, or mentor who will hold us accountable for our actions. We can also join a support group or seek professional help if we are struggling with addiction or other issues related to visual media.

Another way to stay accountable is to use technology to our advantage. There are apps and software programs available that can help us block harmful content and monitor our online activity. These tools can be especially helpful for parents who want to protect their children from harmful content.

Conclusion

Our eyes are a powerful gateway to our hearts, minds, and souls. What we allow them to feast on can have a profound impact on our beliefs, emotions, and actions. As Christians, we are called to guard our hearts and minds and be intentional about what we allow into our lives.

We need to be mindful of the visual media we consume and surround ourselves with positive influences. We also need to be accountable to someone who can help us stay on track and keep us from falling into temptation.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and feed our eyes with good things that will fill our hearts and minds with truth, love, and grace.