Filter.

1 Peter 1:13-15 -- So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

1 Peter 2:1-2 -- So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.


Romans 12:2 -- Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way that you think. Then you will know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


Yes, we are human. We are diseased with a sickening tendency to do the things we know are wrong. We are likely to follow the path this world places in front of us. But we don't need to return to the world anymore. We need to let God transform us. We have to stop talking and start praying. We have to stop going into battle unarmed with words like "Oh, God will protect me." 


God teaches us exactly how to prepare and yet we don't do it so often.


Ephesians 6:10-13 -- A final word: be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but agains evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm.


1 Corinthians 10:12-13 -- If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.


It's not a sin to be tempted. It's not a sin to have thoughts enter into your mind, to have ideas about the future, to be upset about something, to want more out of life----it's not a sin. What you do with those thoughts, temptations, ideas can lead to sin.


Hand everything over to God. Use him as your filter. Rather than asking him to bless what you are doing or show you if something is right or wrong. Simply give it to him.


In the book His Perfect Faithfulness, Leslie Ludy shares a prayer during her time of seeking God about her friendship with Eric and she said -- "God, if this is how You've chosen to bless me, then You must care more about this area of my life than even I do!"


I think that statement should be true of every aspect of our lives. Everything that we do should be filtered through His perfect love, grace, and understanding. We should look only to him, knowing that he is sovereign and capable of all things. Even when we don't completely understand it. He is good.


I can't spend my years at college saying -- Dang, I can't wait to start my job.
I can't spend my single years saying -- Dang, I can't wait to be married.
I can't spend my life wishing I were in a different place.


Here I am, now. Tomorrow isn't even promised. God is preparing me for things to come, but also using me for current moments. And with all that I am, I should want God to care more about what I am doing with my life than I do. He should be pleased. I shouldn't become impatient, selfish, or deceitful. I am on this earth to serve and glorify his name. So, I should pick up and do it without looking back.


Psalm 62:5 -- Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.


I will wait quietly before God, lifting up all my worries and cares to him, because he is faithful and true. My God is good. He didn't create weak people-- cultures have. My God is not weak, he's alive.


Philippians 4:6-7 -- Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. 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.


Trust. Filter. Be transformed.