Our fruit reveals what "kind" of tree we are.

Genesis 1:11-12,25

11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.


"After his kind..." 

I think how the tree made seed after it's kind, and grass etc, Pecan trees make Pecan trees, apple trees make apple trees, Cats make cats, not dogs, etc., then I think about the fruit in our lives, oh how it comes after it's kind! If the fruit in our lives is bad, it is merely because it is after it's own kind (the source of it, ourselves, our hearts), if it is good, it comes from it's good source, Christ in you (John 15:4). What "kind" of fruit is coming from you, it's origin? What do you see coming out of your life and the results? Do you have the fruit of the spirit? You should if His spirit is in you, it only makes sense. If you don't have the Spirit, you won't have the fruit of it. Go through it's list (Galatians 5:22-23), and examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if you are really Christ's since you would possess His "kind" of traits as His child.:The fruit in your life will determine the nature of what source it is coming from (Mathew 7:17-20:).

"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Are you a spoiled child?... of God?

When I grew up, my childhood playgrounds were made of wood that gave you splinters, metal slides pre-heated to 200 degrees by the open sun, and merry-go-rounds that made you dizzy with a concussion if you got spun off. If you’re old and reading this you’re probably laughing or horrified with memories, if you’re young, believe it or not we had the time of our lives and are better for it! Nowadays with safety in mind (for good reason) and sue-happy parents, we now build them with heat-resistant, splinter-proof, plastic and you don’t see as many of the questionable playground equipment where you can fall off or spin until you lose your lunch. I get the reasons. Kids are safer because of them. In case you haven’t noticed though we’ve taken a concept for safety and keeping from any type of harm and applied it in ways to our own hurt. We treat kids and youth, and even ourselves, with kid gloves and grow up with a deep lack of character and preparation for the real world. We want our whole lives including our kid's, to be sheltered in plastic from harm but this is a grand illusion. There is a rare disease few people have who literally feel no pain and they must constantly be supervised because they are unaware of any injury such as a broken leg or open wound. Pain is a warning of a truth in order to prevent greater harm. Our hurt is a clear signal from our nerves that something has gone wrong and needs attention: "you have a broken leg" that needs mended, "you have cancer" that needs treated, and spiritually speaking..."you have sin" that needs forgiven.If pain is ignored and not yielded to,it can lead to death. Someone who is never exposed to any suffering of life, may be unaware of the suffering of their lost soul, and deeply lack character. As Agur told God not to bless him with too much, because he was afraid he would become proud in heart, and feel like he had no need of God in Proverbs 30:9. God allows suffering from sin in part, for us to realize our dependency and desperate need for Him so we do not become proud, and also because if there is this much destruction from suffering here from sin (all suffering, even in non-sinful cases, is ultimately because of sin entering the world, and death through sin) , there must be spiritual suffering as a result of sin as well.It reveals the true ugliness of sin and our fallen condition .  The lack of preparation for suffering in the world can be spiritually fatal. It is a disgrace to send a kid, spiritually unprepared, off to college where professors will mock their faith, co-eds will tempt with pre-marital sex (even at the Christian Colleges),drinking etc.  They will enter into relationships and jobs where they are not protected in the four walls of a church or homeschool (not knocking homeschool, it is great if done right, and I have done both public and homeschool). We have a small chance to be real with them about life and let them know there will not always be a design of a ‘plastic playground’ to keep them from harm. God allows trials to increase our character,  as we read here:

Romans 5:3,4

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

James 1: 2-4

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

I am not saying be pessimistic and tell them not to dream big or to be negative about life; but you and your kid or youth had better be biblically prepared for the real world and armed with scripture to counteract the lies that this world will certainly bombard them with. The world awaits them with open arms to pull them down. It will do so if they are not walking in God’s word.

Another reason to be real with them is because they need to understand when trials come, how to make sense of suffering that doesn’t make sense. I have had my share of suffering, (even horrific such as being nearly stabbed to death and PTSD many years thereafter). Of course in the suffering you think “How could you allow this God?” But you do not see the story from the other side and what He can accomplish through you if you allow your trial to turn into a testimony. For years, I did not see or understand the fruit of how God was going to use my suffering. After being forced away from the town I  grew up in and loved, also suffering great trauma, I now can say I have seen the fruit in eternal value. My testimony allows me to have empathy toward hurt people and share the reason for the hope in me (1 Peter 3:15) that doesn’t make sense to this world. I have seen the lost come to Christ who had experienced other traumas and when they heard how God saved me from despair, attempted suicide, from hatred and anger, how He gave me the power to forgive, and the joy on my face, they realize they are not hopeless either and some have accepted Christ.

Note this:  If just one soul gets saved , as a result of God using the circumstances in your life, to create a testimony to reach their heart, in a way that someone who hasn’t suffered could not, it is worth any suffering you have endured.  

I do not say that ignorantly of hypocritically as I intimately know the suffering of near death,abuse, and years of trauma to the point of madness. God lifted me out to help those still in it.Ask God to make your temporary suffering have eternal value. Even 90 years of suffering would be worth one soul not suffering forever and by far worse.  So whatever your suffering has been, small or major, be sure to keep the right attitude and confidence in God to use it for His glory and ask Him to be glorified in it. Ask Him to use it as a testimony for people suffering similarly. If you have been divorced or left, reach out to the lost who are going through that, if you have suffered trauma, reach out to victims similar, if chronic pain, to those physically hurting and depressed from it. When people who are suffering without Christ see how you overcame, or, how you are currently dealing with it and having joy that doesn’t make sense. It will draw them to want to know the reason for the hope that is in you. Don’t allow bitterness to ruin your story and defeat the purpose God can make for your suffering.       

The bible mentions patience and perseverance in suffering, there is also here where Peter writes:

2 Peter 1:5-11

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

Wonderful, eternal  promises in the next verse 10-11:

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

So I know this devotional kind of split into two parts; from spoiled unprepared kids, to, people who have suffered. But they are very inter-linked. Because like it or not, kids/youth will grow and face suffering and you do not want them to turn from Christ out of an unexpected bitterness of life, or denying Him to avoid the suffering of persecution from Universities, employers, friends, whomever. So prepare them and prepare yourself as we are in a spiritual war. If you are suffering right now, have suffered, or will in the future, you need to lean on the everlasting arms and let God make something good out of it, so that your suffering is not in vain, and to spare someone else from eternal suffering. Stay in walking and trusting God’s word, because your own heart will deceive you (Jeremiah 17:9) to feel so sorry for yourself, that you are blind to the desperate need of the hurting world around you, and it will keep you from knowing Joy in suffering. Make Satan regret that he attacked you by using it for the glory of God.

"Water World"

Mathew 14:28-33

28.And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and[c] worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Peter was walking on water, he must have felt on top of the world, literally. He was so confident he actually asked Christ to to enable him to come to Him on the water. As the winds blew his confidence turned to doubt. He was already defying laws of gravity, yet the winds intimidated him. Have you ever been so sure about standing with Christ at first, but then later some wind of circumstance intimidated you to doubt, and you went from walking above this world to sinking in it? When Peter got distracted and took his focus and confidence off Christ, he sank. He cried out to the Lord to save him, and Jesus' restored his footing above the water.

What distraction,sin, or circumstance, did you start to focus on and take your eyes off Christ which caused you to sink from where you stood with Him? Cry out to Jesus like Peter did and ask Him to restore you back to standing with Him (He can do it immediately like He did with Peter) . Regain the confidence you had when you first called on Christ. Or, if you've always been under the 'water' of this world of sin, and realize you have never been saved in the first place, call on Jesus like Peter did, Peter did not swim his way back to on top of the water, he had no confidence in himself, he simply called on the Lord to save him, and Christ did all the saving. Peter only had to trust, Christ did all the work to save him (Ephesians 2:8,9/Romans 10:13). 

For the falling believer, read what Jesus wrote to the church of Ephesus about remembering the height from where you fell (Revelation 2:5). What are the first works? I believe it is the first and greatest commandment (Mathew 22:37). Unless we serve Christ out of love and abide in Him, we will serve ineffective out of legalism. Jesus said,  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me." John 15:4

Paul gave great examples of Christian service and said if he did it without love, he is nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

So without abiding in Christ and loving Him as we should, we will remain fallen,not bearing fruit, and nothing without love. Serving out of love is how we must serve or we will burn out. If you're burnt out, follow Jesus instructions (Revelation 2:5/John 15:4). Get refreshed by His living water and drop the weights (even non-sinful things) and sin that have hindered your running in the race (Hebrews 12:1). Something I'm working on as well (there are a lot of 'weights' God may reveal if you ask Him to, that may be painful to give up, but if you do, joy follows greater than the pleasure the weights you let go of gave).

p.s.- I highly recommend listening to Audio Adrenaline's song: "Walk on water" in relation to this article.

Mistaken for Jesus, are you?

Mathew 14:1,2

"1.At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2.And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."

John the Baptist walked so close to the Lord and resembled His love and actions that he was mistaken for Jesus (they technically had mistaken Jesus for him, because John was here first, but that's because he was already showing and living out the love that is in Jesus Christ beforehand, but you get the idea). We need to be resembling Jesus so much in our lives to this world that when they encounter us, it's as if they have encountered Jesus. They need to feel the love and care Jesus showed, and also hear the gospel boldly without it being watered down. Is your life so upright and loving to others that the world could look at you and know you belong Jesus? Herod thought John was risen because of the mighty works Christ did. I wonder how many will realize Christ is risen when they see us doing mighty works for God.

Christian response to Homosexuals

You've probably seen people on the news holding signs that say, "God hates you!" They irreverently show up to funerals and scream at people's faces. They do an incredible disservice to the message of the gospel because they contradict this truth: Christ did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Luke 5:32). God loves all, including homosexuals. Christ died for the homosexual as much as He died for anyone else.When a homosexual says, " I was born this way," I respond, "I also was born with a sinful nature that opposed God." The bible says regardless to whatever sin you were born fond of (i.e. lying,gossip,drunkenness,fornication,homosexuality); that 'you must be born again' (John 3:3). I do not agree anyone is born homosexual, but I am trying to convey the point we are all corrupt in sin and naturally desire to do evil from birth, til we are saved, and that any sin, whether we consider it to be a  "big sin" lifestyle or "little sin," will still take the lost to hell. A straight fornicator is just as hellbound as a homosexual is. When I was born, no one had to teach me to lie,steal or hit, or hate even, it was my sin nature I inherited from Adam and Eve. I had to be taught to tell the truth, to share, and to love others. It was contrary to my nature, and until someone becomes born again by repentance and trusting in Jesus to save and change them, they will remain in a sinful nature with desires that are contrary to God.Behavior modification is temporary for any 'bad habit' (sin), because what is truly needed is a heart transformation.Because 'the heart is deceitful above all things' and 'desperately wicked' (Jeremiah17:9) All our hearts are that way til we come to Jesus to change it. The source of sin is in our heart. Out of it comes murder,adultery,evil thoughts,etc. (Math 15:19) 
Ask God to change your heart through His saving power in Jesus Christ.You hear of catholic priests who molest little boys, why? because those priests came to a religion, but not a relationship with Christ to change the heart itself. So they tried to deny their sinful nature and cravings of lust, but eventually fail and give in because until the heart is changed by Jesus Christ, it remains full of wicked desire.Religion cannot contain the evil desires.It only suppresses 'urges' and eventually a meltdown of indulgence occurs.Instead of being a sheep (saved) naturally doing what sheep do, you're still a wolf (unsaved) just containing your desires in a cage of religion you put yourself in, that will not always hold you. Only Jesus can change the heart itself not to desire evil things. Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin and death. He came to bring us freedom from sin. Not freedom to sin, as some mistakenly pervert grace to mean. So am I "anti-homosexual?" I would correct the phrase to be 'anti-homosexuality' because I hate the practice of it, but not the person who does it,The same as I am "anti-lying," "anti-lust," "anti-drunk," etc. I hate the sin, not the sinner. God hates the sin, but He lovingly died to rescue the sinner out of the sin. Jesus was a friend of sinners, but the goal was to free them from it, not keep them in it and condone it. God can free and change anyone, from the drunk, the pornographer, to the homosexual. We all need to be saved from our sins because any sin condemns us and separates us from our maker. If we break even one commandment, we are guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10). Who hasn't ever once lied,lusted or hated before? Guilty of all sin then. But again, 'you must be born again' if you are to overcome any sin at all.Some homosexuals falsely argue that you cannot separate the two by 'hating the sin and not the sinner' because it is who they are, so they equate it with hating their very personhood, so as to excuse themself from judgement by saying 'God made me this way so you must hate me also', but once again, you MUST be born again regardless of whatever sin you embrace as being "part of who you are". Part of the cost of following Christ is to part from your sin and die to 'who you are'(self and self-will) and to become like Him and who He is (Luke 9:23/Galatians 5:24) doing His will (Mathew 7:21-23/Luke 22:42). For "He must increase, I must decrease." John 3:30. That is a cost most are not willing to pay because they love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). You will not desire to do this til you understand your need for Him to save you and what Jesus lovingly and willingly did for you on the cross, and then come to Jesus Christ in repentance (turning from sin/self-righteousness), and in faith (putting your trust in what He did for you on the cross and resurrection, and who He is: Savior and Lord), and allow Him to change and transform your heart. You must see what a sinner you are and what a Savior He is. God does indeed love the sinner, for that is who He came to save, to save from what? The sin that He hates and will punish in His wrath. No sinful pleasure is worth hell, and I can tell you from being a filthy, rotten, even religious, sinner for years in rebellion against God,seeking my own sinful pleasure, that it is far more pleasurable to know Him and the weight of sin and guilt lifted off me, with sweet sleep at night knowing no more fear of hell or God's wrath. I sleep with peace because I have peace with God through His Son and know He loves me and I belong to Him. I couldn't do that before I knew Him. Neither can you love God or desire to honor Him with your life before you come to Jesus as the sinful person in need of a savior that you are. Jesus said, 'if you love me you will keep my commands,' so the unrepentant sinner cannot love Jesus because he/she is living a life of breaking His commands. Christ forgave adulterers,prostitutes,thieves,murderers, etc, but they had to come to Him, forsake their sin, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. God forgave the woman caught in adultery, but told her 'Go and sin no more.' He did not say, 'you're forgiven, now you can do whatever you like.' He forgave her as Savior, He commanded her to sin no more as Lord. Anyone who comes to Christ to be saved will not be turned away (John 6:37). 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble' (James 4:6). So humble yourself before Jesus Christ, be broken of your sin against God and ask for His mercy and to save you and change your heart.God is rich in mercy! His blood can cleanse any sin and is more powerful than any sin or addiction.

On a separate note to those already saved: We do not water down the message, thus presenting a diluted ineffective vaccine to cure, and thus producing a false convert with false assurance of salvation, but we better bathe our message in love when we do present it uncompromised. We will still be accused of hatred no matter how kind and lovingly we present the truth, because the world hates the truth.They hated it when Jesus said the truth, and you are not going to out-love Him.The world redefines love as 'tolerance' and condoning approval of sin, instead of love being a kind warning to keep them from death and destruction (just like when a child says, "you hate me!" because they didn't get their way). So they will accuse you of hate speech and bigotry. But still, we will kill our witness and contradict the gospel if we do it with a hateful, self-righteous attitude, or if we lose our temper, which can easily be done to a hostile mocker if you don't guard your emotions when things get "heated". That is partly why Peter says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15 

Ask yourself when witnessing, or debating, am I doing this with meekness? If not, you need to stop and check yourself so your witness is not contradicted by the ugliness you will otherwise portray on your face and tone. We are to be indignant about sin, but we are to not sin in our anger, and need to realize we will turn people off if we do. Another point is, do you debate for the sake of winning an argument? Is that your objective? To 'one-up' the other?Or is it to win the sinner over because you are lovingly concerned for their well-being? I have been guilty of the wrong motives, and still do from time to time, but I am trying to evaluate myself while witnessing to see, "what do I look like on the outside?" Does this person (whether they agree or oppose me) know that my concern for them is genuine? OR, do they feel like a project or a means to win an argument? If I have not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).  Love through your life,your conduct, your words, silence their accusations by your good deeds.

Mouse trap, the bait of sin. (poem)

I saw a mouse get caught for some cheese,
giving his life for a little snack.
I thought how foolish, to die for a treat.
I'm sure he wished he could take it back,

Then I remembered what the bible says,
for us to lay down our sin.
It easily entangles us in a trap,
chains disguised by enticement.

Like a bear trap, 
it just takes one wrong step,
to get caught there and be bound.
It will leave nothing but regret,
but through repentance, freedom is found.

Like a monkey who puts his hand in a jar,
for a peanut won't let go,
he is trapped by his own fist he's made,
to be free he can't hang on.

Whatever sin you are holding,
know this one thing is true,
whatever you won't let go of,
won't let go of you.

So open wide your hands,
lay your sins at Jesus feet.
Let go and take hold of His hand,
and be holy, for so is He.

-Nathan Glass ©2015

Slave's freedom. (Poem)

As I call upon your name,

I will give you thanks.

You have loosed my bonds,

You have broke my chains.

With hands free to raise,

I will give you praise.

Your merciful kindness, has set me free.

When I called your name, you came to save.

Now redeemed, I sing amazed.

All you do, your word is true.

Oh sanctify, my heart for you.

I am all yours,

Bought with a price.

Your precious blood,

Has given me life.

My soul is filled with joy,

With words I cant express.

In you I will delight,

In your holy presence.

Oh lead me now,

To always seek your face.

To love with all my heart,

And keep running the race.

Turn my heart, back to you.

Sanctify me, in your truth.

Your word a light, unto my path.

Let me walk, after holiness.

Glory to God,

Risen and alive!

My soul ransomed,

Now hidden in Christ.

All praise be, to God who reigns.

His own right hand, mighty to save.

Give thanks to Him, for His goodness.

Who takes sinners, and makes them righteous.

Jesus Christ, you made all things.

Even the tree, by which you hanged.

Your own hand, providing salvation.

Saving from, every tongue, tribe, and nation.

-Nathan Glass ©2015

Double Mind takes away Sound Mind (Devotional)

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Double-mind takes away Sound Mind.

If you have a double-mind (or a dirty mind), you will not have a sound mind, because "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8, and because..

you are walking in the flesh, and not walking in the spirit, it therefore corrupts your mind, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6-11.

What causes doublemindedness?

lustful thoughts or fantasies

focusing on the things of this world, being earthly minded instead of heavenly minded

indecisiveness on whether you will serve God or self (which ultimately causes you to serve self). indecision is decision.

thinking lowly of others or exalting yourself as if you're better or more special

entertaining bad thoughts through unGodly sights (what you watch or look at: ie, tv,computer, even things or people out in public), sounds (what you listen to, ie music, tv), reading material that pollutes pure thoughts through dialogue or filthy language

What causes singlemindedness or a sober mind?

Initially it is first given to one who becomes born again and "is a new creation", 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Timothy 1:7

An unbeliever cannot have a sound mind that honors God. Romans 8:7

For God has not given us (His born again believers) a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

How do we keep or restore a sound, sober, single mind?

'To be spiritually minded is life and peace',Romans 8:6, so 'set your mind on things above,not on the things that are on the earth', -Colossians 3:2, and 'walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh,' Galatians 5:16, and take "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5, so that'd be like if your mind were an airport, make Christ your security checkpoint of thoughts (passengers) entering your mind and let Him examine and refuse and turn away what is on His 'no fly' list and arrest any 'illegal trespassers' or 'stowaways' and kick them out. Your mind is His airport so to speak, and He is to be in charge of admission of what comes in and what goes out, in order to keep harm or disaster from a plane (yourself) falling to destruction.

1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.…

These things need to be done diligently and daily, for Paul says "I die (to self) daily" -1 Corinthians 15:31, and we must "take up our cross daily" as Jesus said -Luke 9:23 .

Colossians 2:6

6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

How did you receive Jesus? Through repentance and faith, so how do you walk in Him? Through repentance and faith, it is not a one time thing you look back to, it is a daily thing you do as a follower of Jesus Christ. We 'die daily' to ourselves and 'have crucified the flesh with it's passions and lusts to the cross". Galatians 5:24

Before you go and face this world and your mind gets exposed to it's filth, go and face His word, get up a little sooner (ask God to help you) and spend time in prayer and the word before you head out in a spiritually hostile world. We are in a spiritual war and you will face temptation daily, even in the safety of your home, so be prepared before you start the day, start it with Jesus in His word to guard your mind and you'll be off to a good start.

You need a helmet to protect your head from injury, so what is your spiritual helmet?.....

Ephesians 6:10-18King James Version (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

So we suit up in His armor and we pray up.

God's word, the remedy to keeping your mind unpolluted from this world:

Psalm 119:9-16

9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
all the rules[a] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Philippians 4:8

"8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Don't just leave your mind empty, fill it with Godly wholesome thoughts,think about God's goodness and all He's done. Your mind craves to think, and you can't just leave it empty or neutral, so don't fill it with evil thoughts. When tempted by bad thoughts, fill it with scripture, rebuke Satan as Jesus did, with scripture, such as "abstain from sexual immorality..." etc. 'Therefore submit to God (first part, crucial, but rarely mentioned when this verse is brought up). Resist the devil (second part) and he will flee from you." James 4:7

If we love God, we will keep His commands -John 14:15, the bible says 'love thinks no evil' 1 Corinthians 13:5, so ask yourself if you are loving Him with all your mind? Confess to Him what areas you have failed to love Him in with your thought life and repent. Identify the sources of what causes you to stumble in your thought life, a movie,game,book,website,friend, etc and guard yourself from it (or even rid yourself of it) so that you are truly walking in repentance and protecting yourself from future harm.

I even had to give up certain news sites that seemed innocent, because their ads were very unGodly and unavoidable and were gateways to sin. So even seemingly innocent things may be a threat to a sound,sober, and single mind in Christ. Evaluate honestly all threats and pray on how to handle each one and guard yourself in His word.

Word in Closing:

Why is it important to have a sound spiritual mind? It is life and peace, there is no peace or life with a double or worldly mind:

5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity (actively opposed/hostile to) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Pray what David prayed sincerely -Psalm 139:23-24,

"23Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting."

Where's the beef???! (fruit in this case) Devotional on Mathew 7:16-21:

For those of you who remember the old lady in the old Burger Commercial asking,“Where’s the beef???!” It made me think, "What does God think when He sees our lives claiming to be Christians, just like that burger could claim to be a burger....?" So in this case God would be saying, "Where's the fruit???" Mathew 7:16

Dental and Physical exams are performed to detect and prevent harm to the body. A person who has
not had one in awhile, may be developing a harmful if not deadly disease,
without knowing it. The bible tells us we need to examine ourselves spiritually
(2 Corinthians 13:5). We need to perform an honest evaluation of what fruit is coming out of our life, to determine the source (our heart) it is coming from (James 3:11-12).

The bible says that we can know we belong to Jesus Christ because
of His spirit in us (1 John 4:13/Romans 8:16) and because we keep His commands
(1John 2:3). In contrast, it also kindly warns us (so that we do not deceive
ourselves), that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, or keep His
commands, He does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9/1 John 2:4).

If I asked you if you belong to Christ, and you said “yes,” if
you were right, then that would automatically mean His Spirit dwells in you. If
that is the case, then it makes sense that the fruit of the spirit (Galatians
5:22-23),will show up in your life as well, since He is in you. I got saved
after reading the list of what is in the fruit of the Spirit because God caused
me to realize through His word that I didn't have it. I prayed the
"sinners prayer" in the past, I was religious. But the reason I
lacked the fruit of the Spirit for so many years of being religious was because
I wasn't transformed by Christ. I had a form of Godliness (in appearance to men,
but God saw my wicked heart's true and selfish desires), but I denied it's
power (2 Timothy 3:5), by contradicting it with my life and thoughts, and by
being ineffective of the fruits of the Spirit .

I learned through scripture and by seeing the fruit in my
life that you are either a "good tree with good fruit" or a "bad
tree with bad fruit" (Mathew 7:18). John calls the hypocrites out (what I
was) in the book of 1 John 2:4. A person
who has just come to saving faith in Christ (“baby Christian”) may be -initially-
confused about what some bad fruit/sins are (gossip, lust, selfishness,
abortion, homosexuality, etc.) for a time, but with growth in God's word it
will all become clear as the Holy Spirit shows them and they will become more
like Christ and will reject the sins they used to accept as tolerable or even
practiced themselves. Someone proclaiming to be in the faith for years and
hasn't picked up their bible and followed it, are deceiving themselves (James
1:22) . You can't grow without God's word in your life (2 Peter 3:18), neither
are you excused in ignorance if you ignore it (John 12:48, Romans 1:20).

What soil are you in as a seed (Mathew 13:3-9,18-23)? Is it
the fertile, life-giving, word of God? Or are you in shallow soil where you
will be scorched? Has your seed (you) died to self and sin in the first place
so that you can transform and grow (John 12:24)? We do not bear good fruit or do
good works in order to be saved (Ephesians 2:8,9/2 Timothy 1:9). We do them
because we are saved! As a seed in God’s soil (His Word), we will naturally, as
a new creation, do good works and bear good fruit (Ephesians 2:10/2 Corinthians
5:17), because the love of God is poured out in our hearts (Romans 5:5) and He
has transformed us in His likeness. Just like you sinned naturally without
being told how (no one taught you how to lie but your sinful nature sure knew
how), you will naturally exhibit Christ's love as a new creation. Go through
the fruits of the Spirit with an honest checklist (Galatians 5:22-23). Do you
have love (not obligation, but love) for God and His people, and love that is
concerned for the lost? By the way if you said 'yes' to loving God, do you keep
God's commands? Because if not, the bible says you are a liar and don't love or
know God (1 John 2:4/John 14:15,21,23,24).The reason why claiming 'love for
God' is not enough is because love is not just an affectionate feeling or
admiration toward another person. If it were, you would have a 'type of love'
for God, but it is so much more, that's why feelings are not enough to show
true saving faith in Christ. If faith were based on feelings, I'd be saved and
unsaved 30 times a day...Also, with the “fruit checklist”; Is there Joy in your
life (which is deeper than a happiness based on circumstances)? Is their peace
(not like 'everything’s ok', but do you know you have peace -rightstanding-
with God and He is not opposed to you? Does that peace comfort you in the midst
of life’s trials? Are you patient? Are you kind? Do you have self-control?
Again, good questions among many others to ask yourself. We should with great
importance, evaluate the fruit we are producing in our lives because the bible
says to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Why would the bible say to do that to someone reading it, surely if they're
reading the Bible they're a Christian right? Wrong (James 1:22). So if you
realize you fall short, humbly bow the knee to the Lord, repent of your sins,
and place your trust in Christ alone for salvation, and not of your own good
works (Ephesians 2:8,9/ 2 Timothy 1:9).

Trust in the work that He did on the cross and rising from
the dead (John 6:29). You can't add to that with your own works (Isaiah 64:4).
Repent (forsake and turn away from your sins and from trusting in your own
effort/self-righteousness/good works for trying to earn salvation) and trust in
Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Acts 3:19-20/John 3:16/John 6:29/Romans
10:9,10). Jesus Christ is the high priest forever (Hebrews 7:17) so you can
come to Him directly. He does not need replaced by any other priest because He lives forever and intercedes for us
as a mediator between God and man (Romans 8:34). Yes, the bible calls God’s
children “priests” (Revelation 1:6), but we can still come directly to the High
Priest Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin and approach the throne of grace
boldly (Hebrews 4:16). We don’t need a “middle man” to do so because Christ Jesus
Himself is the mediator between God and man. So don't come to a religion, or a
priest (since the High Priest Jesus Christ need not be replaced), but come to
Jesus Christ Himself. Some argue using James 2:24, that works must also be done
for salvation, but the bible can't contradict itself (Ephesian 2:8,9/2 Timothy
1:9) so that must mean context is needed to understand. In context (which is
very important for all of scripture) it is clear that if you are truly saved
then there will be evidence in your life that you have been changed (i.e. good
works, not just say-so). Just as a butterfly's flying (which is natural for it
to do) proves it is no longer a caterpillar or larva and has been changed, a
Christian's good works/upright living and genuine love for God and others, and
keeping His commands, is proof they are no longer a lost sinner and have been
changed. The caterpillar got changed in the Pupa and comes out a butterfly with
new characteristics; It couldn't fly before, now it can and does. The sinner
gets changed in Christ Jesus and comes out a new creation with new
characteristics; You couldn't love God before, or do good works out of a pure
motive of love (not out of religion, pride, or “brownie points” for God), neither
could you bear good fruit. Now, as a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians
5:17), you can and will do those things and bear good fruit because you are in
Christ, and it is Him working through you (John 15:4,5) with His love in you (Romans
5:5).It is a lot easier to serve out of genuine love put in you by God, then by
legalism and obligation, I have done both so I know. There is freedom and joy
in serving with love, not a big burden like legalism. A new creation
demonstrates its natural traits and does what it does; for example, fish swim,
birds fly, sinners sin, Christians love Jesus and bear good fruit. This is the
good works (evidence) James is referring to. The good works come out of a new
good creation naturally. It 'justifies' the faith you claim to have, just like
racing in a NASCAR race justifies someone claiming to be a NASCAR racer. They
can back up who they claim to be by the evidence, they are justified in that
claim by their works. They still had to be admitted as a racer first by the
way, if you catch my drift (salvation must occur first). Trying to do good
works before the change just brings frustration and religious legalism, not
freedom, but bondage. A caterpillar would be very frustrated if it tried to fly
and would fall and fail doing so, as will you if you try to be like Christ
without having been changed by Him first. I’m not saying you will be perfect as
a Christian, you’ll still sin (1 John 1:8,9/Romans 7:15-20), but you have the
ability to get back up (1 John 1:9/ 1 John 2:1,2) where as a fallen sinner
can’t get up at all until he/she gets saved. 
You won’t be perfect, nor immune from temptation, even Christ was
tempted, yet he never once gave in to it (Hebrews 4:15), but your life’s aim
will be to pursue and be like Christ, not to sin or see what you can get away
with. The late great Adrian Roger’s once said, “saying someone is just a
‘carnal Christian’ is like saying he’s just a ‘heavenly devil’.” Regarding the idea of good works to earn
forgiveness, Ray Comfort gave a great illustration: "If a criminal does
good works for a judge to get his crime dismissed, he has committed bribery and
will be condemned by his very good works he trusted in, if he does good works
for the judge after being pardoned for his crimes, out of gratitude, he is just
doing them out of gratitude as a free man.” That is the difference between one who is
trying to get approval from God by good works while still being guilty in their
sins, and one who has been forgiven and serves out of love and gratitude because
He’s been forgiven, and understands the amazing cost Jesus Christ paid to set
him free and make approved in God’s sight. A murderer would not be overlooked
by a judge because he volunteered in the community and paid his taxes, neither
will a sinner be overlooked because he did good things in Christ name (Mathew
7:21-23). Sin is simply disobedience toward God (1 John 3:4), so regardless of
what you think is sin or not, if it is disobedient to His word, it is sin
regardless of personal feelings or opinion. You may think your sin isn’t that
big a deal because it’s not like you murdered someone, but if you wonder how
serious sin is to God look no further than the cross, if ever a time God would
have overlooked sin, it would have been when His Son became sin (2 Corinthians
5:21) for us on the cross. But He spared Him not, pouring His wrath out on Him,
for He bore our sin (1 Peter 2:24). And if you only committed one sin in your
life, you are guilty of breaking all of God’s commands (James 2:10).Plus if
you’ve ever lusted after or hated someone, the bible says it is the same as
adultery and murder (Mathew 5:27,28/ 1 John 3:15). Who hasn’t ever once lusted
or hated? That is a serious charge on us all. It says if you’re jealous of
someone you are an idolater (Colossians 3:5/Ephesians 5:5), so that means you
have broken God’s law not to have any other god before Him (Exodus 20:3-5). If
you disagree with these charges, don’t take my word for it, look it up, along
with all the other verses I’ve put in parenthesis from the bible in context.
The fact that you will one day physically die is proof you have sinned (Romans
5:12). You may ask why then did Jesus die if He had no sin? It is because He
willingly laid down His life (John 10:17,18) and became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).He could have stayed
immortal, but He had such deep love for us, to save us, that He gave His life
and suffered a death He did not deserve. We too must willingly lay down our
lives and our will to Christ (John 12:25/Luke 9:23), for He laid down His life
willingly and submitted to His Father’s will, are we greater than our master
not to do so, if He is indeed our master? Jesus Christ says, “Not my will but thine be
done.” Satan would say, ‘Not your will, but mine be done.’ You can follow your
will and own way (even if you perceive it to be non-sinful, it is still not
God’s way) like the devil does, but there is a dear price to pay. You can lose
your life now for Christ, or forever in eternity. What is 90 years to trillions
upon trillions of years of (even that is a drop in the bucket to eternity)
burning in hell forever (Revelation 21:8/Mark 9:47,48)? It is the second death.
So imagine burning to death for eternity, God wants to save you from His
eternal wrath carried out in hell, to His eternal life in His Son in Heaven
(John 3:16,17). So if you’re feeling God’s conviction that you may be unsaved,
repent and trust in Him alone for salvation today. He loves you so much He
thought you were worth dying for (John 3:16,17). He did not stay dead however,
He is our risen Savior (1 Corinthians 15:3,4/John 11:25,26), and He will not
turn you away if you come to Him (John 6:37) in repentance and faith (Acts
3:19,20/John 3:36), and call upon His name (Romans 10:13). You may defend
yourself by saying “God loves me just the way I am,” yes He does, but He also
loves you too much to leave you that way. You may also say “I was born this
way”, but God says, “you must be born again” (John 3:3). Regardless of whatever
sin you claim you can’t help doing because you were born with it, we were all
born with a sin nature against God, that much is true, so all of us have the
need to be born again in order to have a righteous nature that honors God. We
inherited Adam and Eve’s corrupt, fallen, sinful nature (Romans 5:12-21) which
brought us physical and spiritual death, and now through salvation in Jesus
Christ we can inherit eternal life and His nature. If you are born again, you
will be a new creation with new desires, and will be free from being a slave of
sin that helplessly gives into it (2 Corinthians 5:17/ 1 Corinthians 10:13).You
will still have temptations, but in Christ you will be able to resist them and
not practice sin. God wants to make you like His Son. That is our goal in life,
to become more like Jesus and do His will. I do not mean to imply that when you
get saved, God will turn you into a robot forced to do His will, but as a new
creation that has been changed with the Spirit inside of you, you will desire
to do His will, and love Him, and honor Him, and live for Him. A loving
relationship takes work. When God has put His love in your heart, you will put
time and effort in that relationship because you want it to grow and endure. So
abide in Him (John 15:4).Get alone with God and know Him intimately (Mathew
6:5-6/Jeremiah 29:12-13). As a new creation, 
your fleshly human desires will still tempt you (again you are not a
robot) to give into your old ways of sin, but now you have power to resist that
temptation that you didn’t have before.

Die to your old, sinful, self (Luke 9:23/Galatians 5:24), and
live as a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17/Romans 8:1). Hope that
helps. -Nathan Glass

P.S.- Crack open your bible or search the verse locations online. Don't take my word for it, read His book. Lol...