The Danger of Being in Neutral
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“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
“Speed Kills.” Or so says the billboard to encourage drivers to slow down. Thousand are killed every year on the nation’s highways due to excessive speed. But as I drove along and thought about the billboard message, I thought how speed can kill the body, but slowness can kill the soul.
Perhaps there is no more dangerous time for our spiritual life than when our brain is coasting, idling or in neutral. It is like going to sleep at night with the door unlocked. There is no telling what will sneak in and harm us.
Our most vulnerable moments are the unguarded ones, not the ones where we are focused on a mission and going ninety miles an hour with gusts to a hundred and twenty. What I think about in my unguarded moments reflects what my mind dwells upon and ultimately decides what kind of person I become.
I need to discipline and exercise my mind just as I do my body. If I fill my body with garbage then it turns to garbage. My mind is no different. What I dwell on in those neutral moments is a good gauge of what is in my heart. I need to be cautious and what I allow in my mind. The best way to exercise and guard my mind is to contemplate those things that are pure, lovely and of good repute.
I should not allow the world to fill my mind with ungodly thinking and focusing on the “things” of this world. The best way to keep the evil one and his devices from entering my mind is to guard its door with scripture and prayer and by focusing on that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and good.
The things I allow my mind to focus on will determine the way I live and if I focus on the evils and temptations of this world, I take down my guard and can be led into sin like a sheep to slaughter. If I fill my mind with the things of Christ, then I will become Christ like and if I fill my mind with the evils of this world then I become like the rest of the world.
Beware of neutral…. It’s a killer!
Lord, I know that whatever I fill my mind with is a matter of choice, my choice. Please help me to be aware of those times when I am vulnerable and help me to guard my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: What do you think about in your unguarded moments? How can you guard your mind and keep it alert and ready for action?
About the Author John Grant
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Danger of Being in Neutral, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: discipline, encourage, excessive speed, exercise, guard, kills, neutral, noble, pure, slaughter, soul, speed, spiritual, temptations, true
Today I will not be so neutral. Yes it is a killer. I find time on my hands sense I stay at home. I will not dwell on th negative and think more positive about God has done in my life and my family. My daughther and her family have started back to church and I am so happy. Yes today is going to be positive and pray more often.
in my ungarded times i try to get my mind back on the Lord and do the things i know He would want me to do,but sometimes it is very hard and i need to pray for His wisdom
John, thank you for this devotional. although this is dated Apr. 29 and I am just seeing today, May 2, I believe there was a reason for that. I so found comfort in this devotional today as I am finding myself in ‘neutral’. In my unguarded moments I think of doubt. Not doubt in God, doubt that I am of the caliber one requires to be complete in the relationship with the Lord. I can’t explain why I am in neutral as it slowly crept up on me. The good news is that I was more than aware yet I am unable to shake this doubt at the moment.
No matter though I am not dis guarding my studies. I continue daily and pray daily for the Lord’s strength and guidance. This too shall pass and I feel this thought because I know that Jesus is with me. We have choices, I have a choice. I choose Jesus Christ because He is my Rock. Without out Him, I can do nothing and with Him, I will do everything. Amen