Eye Guards - #260

Protecting your mind inclueds guarding your eyes!

Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at  http://www.thepuritycoach.com

Transcript

If what we see influences what we think—and it absolutely does—then it only makes sense that the things we choose to look at should also line up with that same standard. In other words, if God wants our minds filled with things that are Biblically true, morally pure, always admirable, and praiseworthy, then the images and messages we allow into our eyes and ears should reflect those same qualities.

Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #260 entitled “Eye Guards.” 

The more time you invest in Scripture, the more familiar you become with the Author of Scripture. And as you grow in that relationship, something really important begins to happen. You start recognizing the voice and prompting of the Holy Spirit more clearly. He uses the truth of God’s Word to guide your thinking and shape your discernment. Over time, you begin to sense the difference between things that help you grow spiritually and things that quietly pull you away from God and weaken your faith. That kind of discernment doesn’t happen overnight. It develops as you spend time with the Lord in His Word.

Now listen to what Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8. He says that our minds should be occupied with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—things that are excellent and praiseworthy. That’s quite a list, isn’t it? And it gives us a pretty clear filter for our thinking.

But here’s something important to notice. If what we see influences what we think—and it absolutely does—then it only makes sense that the things we choose to look at should also line up with that same standard. In other words, if God wants our minds filled with things that are Biblically true, morally pure, always admirable, and praiseworthy, then the images and messages we allow into our eyes and ears should reflect those same qualities.

Now it’s also important to remember that God’s word says we are living in the age of grace. As followers of Christ, we have been given tremendous freedom. But sometimes we misunderstand what that freedom means. We may start to think that because we are free, we can watch whatever we want, listen to whatever we want, or fill our minds with whatever we choose without any real consequences.

But Scripture gives us an important reminder in Galatians 5:13: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.” In other words, Christian freedom was never meant to be a license to feed sinful desires. It was meant to free us to live in a way that honors God.

That’s why we have to be very careful about what we choose to expose our minds to. King David understood this struggle very well. In Psalm 119:37 he prayed, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.” That’s a powerful prayer.

When David talks about “worthless things,” he’s talking about things that have no eternal value—things that don’t help us grow spiritually and don’t draw us closer to God. They may entertain us for a moment, but they ultimately leave our hearts empty. And David’s prayer reminds us of something important: sometimes we need God’s help to turn our eyes away from those things.

Psalm 101 gives us another glimpse into David’s heart. He says, “I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” That’s a strong commitment. David understood that what we place in front of our eyes eventually makes its way into our minds. And once something settles into the mind, repeated exposure begins to normalize it.

At first something might shock us. It might make us uncomfortable. But over time, if we keep exposing ourselves to it, we slowly become accustomed to it. What once bothered us no longer seems like a big deal. Our thinking begins to shift, and eventually our behavior follows.

That’s exactly why God gave such a direct instruction in Ezekiel 20:7: “Get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on.” God knows the power of what we see. He knows how quickly the mind can adapt to things that slowly pull us away from Him.

Now if you’ve been listening to this podcast for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me repeat this same truth again and again. And I make no apologies for it. What you see strongly influences what you think. What you think ultimately influences what you do. That’s why Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart.”

So let me ask a few practical questions. What are you allowing to be watched in your home? Think about the shows and movies that play on your television. The websites you tend to return to. What kinds of images are you regularly exposing yourself to? What about violence? What about sexual content or suggestive humor? What about the language that gets thrown around so casually? All of those things shape the way we think—whether we realize it or not.

Let me share a quick story. I once had a very dear friend, a godly man whom I respected greatly, recommend a particular movie to me. He talked it up so much that my wife and I became really curious about it. I trusted him, so we decided to give it a try.

We rented the movie, made some popcorn, settled onto the couch, and pressed play. Not even ten minutes into the movie, the name of our Heavenly Father was used in a disrespectful and blasphemous way half a dozen times. My wife and I looked at each other, grabbed the remote, and turned the movie off immediately. Instead, we went to the dining room table and spent the evening playing a game together.

The next time I saw my friend, I asked him about it. I said, “Why would you recommend a movie like that?” His response surprised me. He said, “There’s no swearing in that movie!” I told him there definitely was. Two days later he called me back. He was genuinely troubled. He said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never heard those words the first time.”

But I think I knew what had happened. Over time, he had allowed enough exposure to certain kinds of language and content that his mind had simply stopped noticing it. The guard around his heart had slowly come down, and things that once would have stood out clearly had become background noise. That’s exactly how the enemy works. Not all at once. Slowly. Gradually. Quietly.

David gave wise counsel when he said in Psalm 101:7, “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” Those are wise words for us today as well. Because if we truly want to protect our hearts—if we truly want to guard the well of our minds—then we have to be intentional about what we allow in front of our eyes.

Now I realize that some of you might push back a little at this point. You might say, “Come on… it’s just entertainment. It’s just a sitcom. It’s just a movie. I know the difference between what’s on the screen and what’s real life.” And I understand that argument. I’ve heard it many times. But let me gently challenge you to slow down and think about it a little more carefully.

Take an honest look at the things you’re allowing into the well of your mind on a regular basis. The shows you watch, the movies you enjoy, the websites you scroll through online. Ask yourself a few simple questions. What kind of voices are you allowing to sit in your living room and reside on your smart device? What kind of messages are being repeated in front of your eyes day after day?

In Psalm 101, David made a pretty bold commitment. He said that those who practice deceit and speak falsely would not stand in his presence. In other words, he was intentional about who and what he allowed to influence his life.

So here’s the question we have to wrestle with: are we being just as careful? Are we allowing people who practice deceit and speak falsely to stand in our presence through our screens? Are we letting our eyes linger on things we know deep down we probably shouldn’t be watching? Are we exposing our minds to things that quietly chip away at our spiritual health?

The Apostle Paul gave a very clear warning in Romans 16:17. He said to “watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” That’s pretty direct, isn’t it? Paul is saying that when something pulls you away from the truth you’ve learned from God’s Word, wisdom says to create some distance.

Now let me be clear about something. I’m not suggesting that you should throw away your television and never watch another movie for the rest of your life. I’m not saying you can never be on the internet. That’s not the point. The point is discernment.

Paul captures it perfectly in 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 when he says, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” That little phrase—“test everything”—is incredibly important. The word “test” carries the idea of examining something carefully, scrutinizing it, evaluating it with the intention of determining whether it’s worthy of approval. It’s like inspecting something under a bright light before deciding whether to keep it.

And the grammar of that command actually makes it even stronger. The word is written in the present tense, which means this is meant to be an ongoing habit. It’s not something you do once and then forget about. It’s something you keep doing—again and again—as new influences come into your life. 

It’s also written in the active voice, which means this is your responsibility. You can’t simply rely on someone else’s opinion, a rating system, or a friend’s recommendation. You have to personally evaluate what you allow into your mind. And finally, it’s written as an imperative—a command. Not a suggestion. Not optional advice. God is instructing us to carefully examine the things that influence us.

So when it comes to a TV program, a movie, a website, a game, or anything else competing for your attention, the question becomes simple: does this pass the test? Does this content honor God? Does it encourage truth, purity, and wisdom? Or does it subtly pull my thinking in the wrong direction? If it passes the test, great. Enjoy it with a clear conscience. But if it fails the test, the instruction is equally clear: avoid it. Stay away from it. Don’t try to justify it. Don’t try to make excuses for it. Just let it go.

First John 2:15–16 gives us another important perspective. It says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world… For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

That passage reminds us that the world is constantly presenting its offerings in a way that looks attractive. The goal is to make those things seem enjoyable, desirable, even normal. The more we see them, the more familiar they become, and the more likely we are to embrace them without thinking twice.

And Satan loves to use that process. His strategy is often slow and subtle. Little by little he tries to shift our focus away from the deep, life-giving relationship we’re meant to have with our Heavenly Father. But the truth remains: not everything the world offers comes from God. If something doesn’t bring honor and glory to Him, then wisdom says it doesn’t deserve a place in our lives.

That’s why the very first test we should apply to anything we allow our eyes to see is the command Jesus gave in Mark 12:30: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” That command touches every part of life—including our thoughts and our attention.

So when you’re deciding whether something belongs in your life, a helpful question to ask is this: does this help me love God more, or does it slowly pull my attention away from Him? Because in the end, anything that draws your love and focus away from God, His Word, and His will simply doesn’t belong in your life.

And here’s why this matters so much. If we fail to guard our hearts—if we become careless about what we allow our eyes to see—the enemy’s deception can slowly creep in and begin reshaping the way we think. And once our thinking starts to drift, our lives will eventually drift with it.

That’s why the warning in Numbers 33:55 is so powerful. God told His people to drive out the influences that would pull them away from Him. Why? Because the things they allowed to remain would eventually become “barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.” In other words, the influences we tolerate today can become the very things that trouble us tomorrow.

So, the command to each of us is really quite simple: guard your heart. Protect your mind. Be intentional about what you allow into your life. Because what enters your eyes today has the power to shape who you become tomorrow.

Paul gives us a very simple but powerful reminder in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Most of us understand that verse when it comes to the people we spend time with. Parents remind their kids about it all the time—be careful who you hang around with because the people around you will influence you.

But let me ask you to think about that from a slightly different angle. What kind of “company” are you inviting into your home through the things you watch? What kind of voices are you allowing to sit in your living room, speak into your mind, and shape the way you think?

Because the truth is, every show, every movie, every video, every story is carrying a message with it. Sometimes those messages are subtle. Sometimes they’re wrapped in humor or packaged in great storytelling. But the influence is still there.

So, it’s worth asking a few honest questions. If a show demeans women or constantly portrays men as foolish or incompetent, even if it’s meant to be funny, should we really be filling our minds with that? If a program encourages disrespect toward parents, teachers, or authority figures, is that something worth entertaining ourselves with? If a storyline promotes sex outside of marriage as normal or harmless, or if it makes a joke out of the struggles within marriage, is that really something we want influencing our thinking—or the thinking of our families?

Those are not small things. Because when we allow our eyes and ears to regularly take in things that don’t honor God, we’re also allowing our minds to dwell on things that don’t honor God. And eventually that begins to shape our attitudes, our perspectives, and our decisions. Over time, it can lead to a life that slowly drifts further and further away from reflecting God’s character. So, we have to ask ourselves a very simple question: is it worth the risk?

I remember in Sunday School singing a little children’s song that said, “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.” As simple as that song is, there’s a lot of wisdom packed into it. Our eyes are one of the main gateways to the mind. What we consistently look at will eventually influence what we think about.

Second Peter 2:14 gives a sobering picture when it speaks of people who have “eyes full of adultery” and never stop sinning. In other words, when our eyes are constantly feeding the wrong things into our minds, our hearts can slowly become captured by those influences. That’s why being careful about what we look at is so important.

I want to extend to you a simple but serious challenge. King David made a commitment in Psalm 101:3 when he said, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” That’s a strong decision. David wasn’t leaving things up to chance. He was drawing a clear line and choosing ahead of time what he would and would not allow into his life.

If you’ve never made that kind of commitment before, maybe today is the day to start. Take a moment and decide that from this point forward you’re going to be intentional about what you allow your eyes to see. That includes the shows you watch, the movies you choose, the games you play, the books and magazines you read, and the websites you visit. Everything.

Make the decision today that if something does not honor God, it simply doesn’t belong in your life. Period. And when you make that kind of commitment, it becomes much easier to keep your focus where it truly belongs. Psalm 25:15 says, “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only He will release my feet from the snare.”

What a beautiful picture that is. When our eyes are fixed on the Lord—when our attention is centered on Him—He is the one who keeps us from being trapped by the things that would otherwise pull us down. So guard your eyes. Guard your mind. And keep your focus on the One who leads you in the path of life.

As we wrap up today’s episode, I just want to pause for a moment and say thank you. Truly. It means more than you might realize that you chose to invest this part of your day with me and listened all the way through this conversation. Time is one of the most valuable things we have, and the fact that you chose to share some of yours here is something I don’t take lightly. I’m genuinely honored.

Before we close, though, I’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider something. This Pure Man Ministry isn’t something I do alone. In fact, it can’t be. The work we’re doing—helping men all across the world find freedom, victory, healing, and restoration through the truth of God’s Word—is something that requires a team. And that team includes people who feel God’s leading to stand with us.

We’re continuously praying and asking God to raise up Pure Man Partners—people who feel called to support this ministry in two very important ways. First and most importantly, through prayer. And I don’t just mean a quick, passing prayer like, “Lord, bless Steve and the ministry.” That matters, of course, but what we truly need are faithful prayer partners who will intentionally and consistently lift this ministry before the Lord on a regular basis.

We need people who will pray for wisdom as we counsel and encourage men who are battling deeply entrenched sin. Pray that God would give clarity, discernment, and compassion as we open His Word together with those who are struggling. We also need prayer for protection. When you step into ministry that confronts sin and points people toward freedom in Christ, you quickly realize that the enemy does not like that very much. There are constant attempts to discourage, distract, and derail the work God is doing. So, we need people who will faithfully pray for spiritual protection over this ministry.

And most of all, we need prayer for the men and families we are serving. Pray for the men who feel trapped and enslaved in this struggle—that God would open their eyes to the hope and freedom found in Christ. Pray for their victory. Pray for clarity as they study Scripture. Pray for genuine spiritual growth in their lives. And please pray for their families as well—their wives, their children, their churches—because this battle often impacts far more people than we initially realize. So, let me ask you: would you consider becoming a Prayer Partner? Someone who commits to regularly praying for this ministry and the lives God is touching through it?

But there’s a second way some of you may feel led to partner with us, and that’s through financial support. The Pure Man Ministry is a faith-based, donor-supported, not-for-profit work. Everything we do—from counseling and teaching to producing these episodes and resources—happens because God moves in the hearts of His people to give.

So, if our mission resonates with you… if you share the burden we carry to reach men and women around the world with the message of freedom, hope, healing, and restoration through the cleansing power of God’s Word and the leading of His Spirit… then I’d like to invite you to consider joining our team of Pure Man Partners.

We are praying for individuals who feel God’s leading to help support the ministry on a monthly basis—people who feel called by God to help sustain and expand this work through consistent giving. Every gift, no matter the amount, plays a vital role in helping us continue reaching people with the truth that sets them free. Your financial support is not only deeply appreciated and greatly needed, but it is also tax-deductible as well.

If God is stirring your heart to become a financial partner with this ministry, you can simply visit our website at www.thepuritycoach.com and click on the “Donate” button in the upper right corner. From there you can make your tax-deductible gift and become part of what God is doing through The Pure Man Ministry.

And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes! So, until next time this is Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry – reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.