Chapter 14 – A Passive Mind

And finally, an abnormal mind is a passive mind. To think, I have been praying for passivity – I don’t want to care anymore. I don’t want things to matter so much to me. I just want to let it go and, well, do nothing.

Instead, I should have been praying for a rested mind, alert and receptive.

But no, I’ve been praying for an empty mind. What was I thinking?

When you get rid of the demons in your mind, they leave an unoccupied space. It is crucial that you fill it up again with the Goodness of all things God. Otherwise, the demons come back to their old realm and they bring their friends along for the ride.

I’ve heard this. I knew this. Was it in a class? Was it in the Bible? Does it matter? I forgot it and have paid for my ignorance.

I had the opportunity to “clean house” about a year ago. I was fresh and new, but I did not fill the empty spaces satisfactorily and not only did my “house” become cluttered again, it got exponentially worse.

I need to clean house again. And again. And again. And fill it with the right things and leave no room for the wrong things.

It’s not just me and my cluttered mind. Our culture has so much recreational time that we’ve all become very passive when we aren’t busy. And so many of us aren’t busy with the right things. Our jobs take the majority of our time. Then our own recreation comes second. Then our families if and when we are rested enough to enjoy them. And God is Sunday morning.

How many of us come home and turn off our heads and turn on our favorite drug? Television? Computer? Daydreams? Video Games? Food?

How many of us set aside the time to read the Bible and pray? Dedicated time with the Lord everyday on our own.

He’s our best friend and He wants to spend time with us. He is ready to fill those empty spaces with something good and wholesome and pure. And we just have to be receptive. We don’t have to work – just receive.

And give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:27 (ESV)

Neither give place to the devil.

(KJV)