I have found something to be very true when dealing with my life. What goes into my eyes and ears will make a home in my heart. A great percentage of Christians (I would have to say high school and college age, especially) struggle with a lot of things spiritually that make them feel bound and oppressed. I believe that the majority of us that struggle with sin and the feeling of being trapped in a prison-type mentality in our minds can be traced back to one major question:  What goes in your eyes and ears?

It is very hard to have “ears to hear” what God is saying when your favorite songs are the newest Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Drake tracks. If you listen to songs about sex, you will probably struggle with lust. If you listen to songs about having the hottest car on 26-inch rims, then you will probably live your whole life setting your sights and heart on treasures in this life; or, songs about depression and heartache, then you will probably feel sad and depressed. It will be hard to have “eyes to see” God if you watch ungodly shows and movies.

These are simple, common sense ideas, but we usually don’t live by them. We ask God to free us from lust, but we don’t walk out of the open prison doors when He does, and then we blame Him for not freeing us. Filling yourself with music and movies that are unlike God will eat you alive spiritually until you are dead and dry and can’t even remember what the presence of God feels like. Plant the things of this world into your heart and watch it produce seeds of bondage to sin, which will grow into rotten fruit.  But, if you will listen to something Godly, set your mind on God, read the word, pray, among other things that lead you to God, then you will live free from yourself and from the bondage of sin. I’m not being religious and saying, if you don’t listen only to Christian music, you are going to hell.  But, I guarantee that, if you don’t fill your mind with Christ, then you will never live in the freedom God intended for you.

This is beyond being saved. This is about living in the fullness of Christ and walking in the spirit. I only know the bondage of these things because I have sowed to them myself and watched my heart go numb and dry up like a garden in the heat of the desert with no rain. If you are struggling to be free from the sin in your heart, but just can’t get free, then evaluate the things that go into you, and you might find the source. Once you find the source, put it down and walk away and never turn back.  Continually guard your heart from sinful thoughts.

^{Matthew 6:22} “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

^{Galatians 6:7} Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

^{Proverbs 4:23} Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

^{Philippians 4:6} Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.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.

If you don’t know of any Christian artists or don’t know of any good books to fill your mind with, here is a list of a couple of my favorites from different styles of Christian artists:

Misty Edwards – Soul Cry                                                

 Lecrae – Desperate

Skillet – Thirst Is Taking Over

Jason Upton – I\’m In Control

Books:     

Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Cost Of Discipleship