The first thing that comes to my heart here is that you need to set pure things before your eyes, not depressing ungodly movies that bring you down:
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Next I would share a word of testimony that has helped me over the years, I have been saved 36 years now, and it always works.
God showed me a dark room, and then the light was turned on. God showed me that light dispels darkness, or that the darkness is swallowed up by the light. Our natures, or flesh, are always assaulting us, but when we focus on His light our darkness is dispelled. When we focus on the darkness we become dark again. The light is aways there, but we become like what we look at. The moment our peace leaves us we need to realize we have taken our eyes of the provision supplied by the Lord and put them on our circumstances. This keeps us earthbound.
I hear in your comments, I, me, I, me, If you will turn your focus off me, and I, and onto God, who is lovely, your darkness will be dispelled.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
As long as you focus on you, and your situation, you will not walk in victory, but when you take your eyes off yourself and worship God, forgetting what is behind, you will have peace and joy. The enemy of our souls wants us to think about ourselves all the time, what is happening to me, what someone thought or said about me, etc. and when we focus on that we walk in defeat. You will have to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Now my counsel to you would be to either leave off watching TV completely, and stay in the word, or to only watch that which is edifying, and also stay in the word, and prayer. One movie I watch over and over is called "Amazing Grace" and every time I do it rejoices my heart. I have a made it a habit in my life to not watch anything that makes me afraid or feel creepy, nothing demonic, etc, and to set beautiful things before your eyes, Godly things. I watch uplifting movies filled with joy and light because that does not drag me down, like "Soul Surfer". I am sure others on this site could give you many suggestions, or just listen or watch many of the wonderful ministers on this site. Also put on worship music and let you heart be lifted up to God. I love Kim Riviera, and Vince Gibson and many, many others too.
God showed me that we become like what we look at. He showed me in this way. A person who spends all his time reading about stock market numbers speaks about nothing but the stock market, he who is a movie buff talks all about movie trivia, he who studies the life of Jesus, becomes like Jesus. We reflect what we take into ourselves. If you take in trashy movies, full of fear and hatred, that is what you will reflect.
I want to say one more thing, hopefully you will ponder it. Sometimes we can grow accustomed to the attention we get by having problems in our lives, and some attention, even if negative, can seem better than no attention at all. I have seen people who all they talk about is their sickness, and it gives them something to talk about, however they never really experience victorious life and joy, because those things only come by forgetting ourselves and focussing on the King of Life Himself. It is better to choose to forget about ourselves, and to not talk about ourselves, and lift up Jesus. When we lift Him up we will find joy and peace and lead many to the Lord as they see His image growing in place of our darkness.
What will happen in your family when they see you with your heart full of joy and peace, speaking words of life and thanksgiving? Will that not start a wheel in motion that also leads them to want what you have. This is available to us all, it starts today.
Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
There is a place of joy and peace open to you, but you have to turn on the light. The light is available to all in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He awaits you to focus on Him and lift Him up, and He will be all things to you. You will find the peace that passes understanding. To stop focussing on yourself and look to Him doesn't happen over night. We have mindsets, and habits that must be broken with much prayer, repentence, and reading of the word, but what we gain will make it all worth it. I know, I am walking in peace today to prove it. God is faithful in all things.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
I will be praying for you to recieve all He has for you. Peace, joy, rest, and more of Him. God bless you abundantly in His presence. Know that the true body of Christ is one, we are all in the same boat, all part of the same loaf, and we all struggle with the same issues. What I have shared above is how we all come out of darkness into light, from turmoil to peace, depression to joy. Lift your eyes up and you will be free, focus on yourself and you will never be free. We each have a choice to make. Choose Him. _________________ KLC
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