There is an old kids' church song that says, “Be careful little eyes what you see.” If you grew up in church, you probably remember it. “Be careful little ears what you hear. Be careful little feet where you go.” It was a simple children's song, but there was some serious theology packed into those words. What we see matters. What we hear matters. Where we go matters. What we allow into our lives eventually has an impact on who we become.

We live in a world where we can consume almost anything we want, whenever we want. Our phones put an unlimited amount of information, entertainment, opinions, images, music, and videos right in our hands. We can choose what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, who we follow, and what voices we allow to speak into our lives. And just because something is available to consume doesn't mean it is good for us to consume it.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” I love that the Bible doesn't tell us to casually watch our hearts. It says guard your heart. Protect it. Pay attention to what gets access to it. Be intentional about what you allow to settle into your mind and shape your desires.

Think about your phone. You have some control over what gets downloaded onto it. You don't have to install every app that gets offered. You don't have to click every link. You don't have to watch every video. You don't have to follow every account. You don't have to answer every notification. In the same way, we have to learn to practice content filtration in our spiritual lives.

The Roman army understood the importance of a good defense. When soldiers were facing an attack, they could lock their large shields together to form what was called a testudo, or tortoise formation. Instead of every soldier standing alone, they created a wall of protection around themselves. Shields covered the soldiers on the sides and overhead, making it much harder for arrows and other attacks to get through. The strength wasn't just in one shield. The strength was in the wall. We need that kind of intentional protection around our Eyes and ears so that we can protect our hearts.

Because we live in a world where the attack never really stops. Every day something is trying to get our attention and more importantly our affection. Our phones put an unlimited amount of information, entertainment, opinions, images, music, and videos right in our hands. We can choose what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, who we follow, and what voices we allow to speak into our lives. And just because something is available to consume doesn't mean it is good for us to consume it.

Think about that Roman shield wall. The soldiers didn't say, “Well, we're strong enough that a few arrows won't matter.” They understood that the purpose of the shield was to stop the arrows before they reached them. That's wisdom for us. We shouldn't wait until something has taken root in our hearts before we decide it was probably a bad idea to let it in.

What are you watching? What are you listening to? What are you reading? What conversations are you constantly participating in? Who are you allowing to influence you? What kind of images are you putting into your mind? What voices are shaping your understanding of relationships, success, money, sexuality, beauty, happiness, politics, and even God? Because whether we realize it or not, we are all being formed by something. The question is what is forming you?

“Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear.” That little song wasn't just for children. It is still good advice for adults. Be careful what you watch. Be careful what you listen to. Be careful where you go. Be careful what you breathe into your soul.

You don't have to consume everything the culture serves you. You can say no. You can turn it off. You can unfollow it. You can walk away. You can choose something better.

Today’s Prayer

Holy Father, 

Help me guard my heart. Give me wisdom to recognize what I need to let in and what I need to keep out. Help me be careful with what I watch, what I listen to, what I read, and the voices I allow to influence me. Holy Spirit, make me sensitive to anything that is pulling my heart away from You. Give me the strength to turn it off, walk away, and choose what is good and honoring to You. I don't want the culture to shape me more than Christ does. Build a strong wall around my heart and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.

In Jesus' holy and victorious name, amen.