⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

VOICES IN MY HEAD

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” As a parent, I worked tirelessly to put guardrails around my kids and the influences they were exposed to. Of course, I couldn’t control all the people they spent time with; however, my wife and I made sure to ask plenty of questions. Over time, both of our boys learned that fewer questions were asked about the friends and families who aligned with our beliefs and way of living. As a result, they generally chose to spend more time with those groups.

As adults, the exact same thing is true. The influences we allow into our lives, minds, and hearts will have a profound effect on the way we live and, perhaps more importantly, the way we think. Here are just a few examples of “voices” that can creep in and begin shaping us from the outside-in:

• Who we spend time with: friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances in everyday settings
• What and who we listen to: radio stations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and reels
• Social media: who we follow, the rabbit holes we go down, and the debates we engage in, passively or actively
• TV channels, programs, and series
• What we read: books, blogs, Scripture, and devotionals

As we approach the subject of “How to Surrender My Past,” it is critical to evaluate the voices you are giving an audience to. When you survey the list above, take inventory of which influences are drawing you closer to Jesus and which are pulling you away. Be honest.

• If you find yourself thinking negatively after doom scrolling, take a step to clear your mind and fast from social media for a day, or maybe longer.
• If you notice that your language does not honor the Lord when you spend time with a certain group of people, it may be time to boldly create some distance between yourself and those influences.
• If you find your heart beginning to chase unhealthy things after binge watching several series, pray about other ways you can spend your evenings.

It won’t be easy. And the enemy will hand you every excuse to rationalize your way out of making positive changes. Remember, Satan, along with friends or acquaintances who do not have God at the center of their lives, does not want you to live a spiritually healthy life. He would rather neutralize you and lull you into complacency.

Don’t fall for it. Instead, get in the Word to heal your heart, seek the Lord in prayer as food for your soul, and find ways to look beyond yourself to help and serve others as a way to strengthen your faith.

Then take one more giant leap: invite a trusted friend to help you with accountability. Your future self will be so glad you did.

Pray: Jesus, I want You to be the greatest influence in my life. Help me tune out the harmful voices I allow into my mind and tune in to the voices that lead to true joy. Amen.

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.