When we carry the weight of sin on our hearts and in our minds, we invite destruction, that is, Satan, to live with us permanently.
For example, we lie or deceive a spouse or other loved one on a significant matter. As a result of that deception, until we fess up and ask for forgiveness, we carry that lie with us; it haunts us from time to time, and we bear this burden. Conversations may occasionally arise, reminding us of the lie, and give us the opportunity to tell the truth. But instead, we often repeat or expand the lie to avoid upsetting our loved ones and rocking the boat.
Rather than confess, we tell ourselves things like
- -” No actual harm done.”
- -“ It’s better if they don’t know.”
- -” Why hurt them with the truth?”
The result: we may carry the unnecessary weight of guilt (that God knows) in our hearts and minds for years, maybe even to our death.
In doing so, we have offered Satan permanent residence in that part of our mind. Are we not limiting our relationship with God and that person from being all it can be?
However, when we go to God and to that person, asking forgiveness and repenting of our wrongs, we simultaneously kick Satan to the curb.
Kicking him out of that permanent home we’ve furnished him in our mind, where we can now invite good thoughts to live.
Are we not mending our hearts and minds by removing that permanent dwelling of sin?
The above thoughts bring to my mind the following scripture.
1. (story of the unclean spirits) “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45
- 2. Philippians 4:8-9 (focus)
- 3. James 5:16 – (confess)
- 4. Romans 1:21-32 (futile thinking)
- 5. 1 John 4:9, Mark 11:25 (forgiveness)
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