Be Careful What You Listen To

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DAILY VITAMIN
- Be Careful What You Listen To
"So be careful how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall be given more; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." (Luke 8:18 TLB)
     According to our theme scripture, some things you listen to can cause you to lose certain precious others; while some you listen to can add to them. What you hear affects your life greatly because it has the power to configure your mind and colour your heart, and as a result greatly influence your way of thinking as well as your mode of living. Someone once said that whatever a man will be in five years will be determined by what he reads, whom he associates with, and what he listens to. Little wonder we are cautioned to be very careful as to what we listen to.
     So, let me ask you this question: What have you been listening to? How your life has turned out thus far is a function of that. David tells us that he became wiser than his predecessors by making God's Word his meditations. He listened to it as much as he could until he outgrew the ancient in wisdom (Psalm 119:99). It kept him producing fruits unto righteousness.
    You see, as a child of God what you hear is very important. You have a prescribed diet. 1 Peter 2:2 says "As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby". And that diet has to be ingrained in the Word. Like a baby who's fed with some strange formula, a Christian who listens to the wrong things will experience some stuntedness in his growth. We need the right formula for proper growth. And this formula, as I said, is the Word of God.
    As we listen to it, it gives health to our entire being (see Proverbs 4:20-22). So, consciously practice listening to only things that agree with it; to things that minister grace and are consistent and congruent with its truth. Philippians 4:8 says "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest... just....pure...lovely...of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." The Word of God is all of that; and it's the only prescribed way to live and grow as God desires you to. So when others are busy listening to things that don't edify, listen to the Truth- listen to God's Word; for it is how we deliberately and practically become blessings to our world.
"Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others" (1 Timothy 4:16 TLB).

Confession:
My thoughts are congruent with the Word of God. As I meditate on it, it ministers grace to my spirit. As I listen to it, it transforms my life from glory to glory, bringing out of me the deep treasures of Christ resident in me to the glory of God. Amen.

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