Mindless, Harmless

Mindlessly scrolling

Mindlessly watching

We believe what's mindless is harmless

But, oh what dangerous waters we have stepped in

We believe it's harmless

Deeper and Deeper we go

Letting the water carry us

Telling us what to do

Where to go

What's mindless is harmless

Right until we're on the last inch of our tiptoes

Paddling, tirelessly

As the waves violently jolt us

You're trying to stay above the water

Trying not to be overcome by the waves that surround

Trying not to drown

Taking in one last breath

With a desperate gasp...

It is then you realize,

This entire time

You've been slowly sinking

It is then you realize,

What is mindless

Is often most harmful

I wrote this poem based on a phrase I hear often, "mindlessly _____." Whether that blank be scrolling through social media, watching the news, that inappropriate show, or listening to that show, which has speech filled throughout it that I don't want to rub off on me... whatever your "mindless statement" is, we all use the excuse. Oh, it's mindless, we use it synonymously with harmless. When we say "mindless" we often mean, I'm not fully paying attention, so it's not harmful. You're not thinking about what you're watching, you're just watching it. It's relaxing because you don't have to think. Ah, what a dangerous, dangerous place to be.

If it's mindless, it means we aren't thinking about (filtering) what we are scrolling through, watching, listening to, etc. Our minds are our main filters. Filters for our thoughts, our hearts. What goes through our mind, unfiltered and filtered, affects the heart. If our minds are unfiltered or unguarded, the devil has full rein to use what we are allowing in our minds and speak lies over those things.

We must know what we are watching, what we are scrolling through, because soon enough, we begin to believe what we are hearing and seeing, rather than comparing it to Truth. If something is mindless, it is extremely easy for the devil to reach the heart, because whatever is popping up on our screen or playing in the background isn't being filtered, it's being allowed to enter our minds and eventually, our hearts. "Mindlessly scrolling" opens the door, wide for comparison, jealousy, idolization of people, unrealistic standards, lies, you looking like the world, discontentment, and on I could go. "Mindlessly watching" opens the door, wide for fear, lies, you looking like the world, sadness, frustration, stress, feeling the need to be take control from Him, etc.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." -Colossians 3:2

When our minds are not guarded and not set on Him, we fix our minds on earthly things. When we do that, the devil has one foot in. This is a daily battle you will face, multiple times a day. It is a constant training, constant redirecting. We must constantly push the devil out. Set your minds on things above. I'm not saying never go on social media, watch tv, or listen to anything that has some bad language or whatever it may be. But be wary. Know that what goes in our minds, controls our thoughts, and affects our hearts. We must protect our minds, because access to our minds, opens up access to everything else.

If he can get us to think the lie, he'll work on getting us to feel the lie, and then will work on confirming that thought and feeling by making us believe the lie. And once we believe it, it's ten times harder to undo it. Remember that what is mindless can often be harmless, no matter how enjoyable or relaxing in the moment. We must protect and control what we allow in and out of our minds. If the devil can make a home in our minds, then he has easy access to the heart.