Do you have caller ID on your telephone? It’s great because it allows you to screen your calls. Now, I’m not one to just ignore phone calls, but there are times- like dinner time- when I don’t want to be interrupted. If I’m working and in the zone, I don’t want a phone call to interrupt. There are some phone calls we need to take and others we simply want to avoid.
The same is true with thoughts. We are not responsible for thoughts that come to our mind, but we are responsible for those we accept. It’s like someone knocking on your door…you can’t control who knocks, but you can control who you allow to come in your house.
We live in a sinful world. We only have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television to see proof, yet we are called to be in the world and not of the world [2 Corinthians 10:3, 1 John 4:4]. We are clearly instructed on the thoughts we should allow access to our minds in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things.”
When there’s a knock at the door of your mind, screen it. You only have to accept the thoughts you want. You control what thoughts have access to your mind. If a thought isn’t one you care to embrace, then send the message loud and clear: ACCESS DENIED!