October 7
Guarding the Gateway
to Your Soul
"Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure.
Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things."
Philippians 4:8 (NIrV)
Daniel’s heart raced as the bloodcurdling scream echoed through his headphones. Another victim in the movie was being hunted down, the tension so thick it sent chills up his spine. He leaned forward, completely absorbed. The more violent, the more disturbing, the better. That’s what made a good horror movie, after all.
Every weekend was the same—dark room, Netflix queued up, or a trip to the theater for the latest horror release. He reveled in the suspense, the grotesque imagery, and the shock factor. If a movie didn’t leave him unsettled, it wasn’t worth watching.
But something had changed.
Lately, the nightmares had grown more frequent. He'd wake up drenched in sweat, his mind plagued by terrifying images. He felt uneasy walking home at night, his imagination twisting every shadow into something sinister. Even in broad daylight, he couldn’t shake the sense of something dark clinging to him.
One evening, after finishing yet another gory film, he turned off the screen and caught a glimpse of his reflection in the black TV screen. His eyes looked different—hollow, almost. He shuddered. Why did he feel so drained, so... polluted?
That night, he struggled to sleep. His thoughts swarmed with violent images. But then, another thought surfaced—one he hadn’t considered in a long time.
"Your eyes are the gateway to your soul."
The words struck him hard. He had heard something like that in church years ago. What was he feeding his mind? What was he letting in?
He reached for his phone and looked up Philippians 4:8. As he read the words, he felt a deep conviction. He had been filling his mind with darkness, yet expecting to feel light inside. No wonder fear had crept into his life. No wonder he felt uneasy all the time.
For the first time, he prayed—really prayed. “God, I don’t want this stuff in my heart anymore. Help me fill my mind with things that honor You.”
The next weekend, he made a decision. No more horror marathons. No more filling his soul with fear and darkness. Instead, he picked a movie that was uplifting—something that left him feeling encouraged instead of disturbed.
As the credits rolled, he smiled. His heart felt lighter. The shadows didn’t seem so overwhelming anymore. He was beginning to see the truth—what you let into your mind shapes who you become.
And tonight, for the first time in a long time, Daniel felt peace.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for reminding me that what I watch, listen to, and think about matters.
I see now that I’ve been filling my mind with things that bring fear instead of peace, darkness instead of light.
Help me to focus on what is true, pure, and worthy of praise.
Give me wisdom to guard my heart and mind, and let Your presence fill me with peace.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
