A heart at peace gives life to the body
I began this series by discussing the importance of controlling your tongue and fingers –what you speak with your mouth and the words you type.
Today, let’s move on to another body part: controlling your eyes 👀.
Many troubles start with simply looking at things we shouldn’t, leading to intrusive thoughts. For example, you see your friend’s cool, brand-new gadget and envy creeps in:
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” – Proverbs 14:30
Or maybe you gaze at a very attractive person or explicit images online, and before you realise it, your mind is flooded with lustful thoughts:
“Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.” – Proverbs 6:25
What we choose to look at influences our thoughts and ultimately affects what we do. Watching violent movies, for example, can breed aggression in your language and actions.
We feed our souls with our eyes.
Controlling your eyes takes practice and is the beginning of self-control. A lack of self-control makes you vulnerable, like a city without walls is defenceless (Proverbs 25:28).I love what Joseph from the bible did when he was enticed into sin - He ran away from it Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. (Genesis 39:12)
Job resolves, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” – Job 31:1
Though controlling what you see at all times is impossible, you always have the choice to look again or look away. Like Job, you too, can make a covenant with your eyes.
Thankfully, we serve a God who has created immense beauty all around us to feast our eyes on; from a beautiful sunset to a tiny flower, we are surrounded by incredible sights.
friend take a moment today to look at something beautiful created by God to leave you in awe and wonder. Thank Him for surrounding you with beauty 🙏.
