We think we can entertain evil minds and avoid evil actions... It's like typing a nasty email just for the 'fun' of it never intending to send it. Then the wind blows and we accidentally hit the send button! In the same way when we entertain evil thoughts and the 'wind' blows trouble our way, we default on that evil mind and it spills forth.

Remedy: To maintain minds of love and praise, weeding out all evil. Out 'garden' will only grow flowers, no thorns.

It seems such a dichotomy that people think one thing and pretend another, being swayed by evil thoughts thinking no-one can see.

In the same way you'd better avoid porn, because it WILL lead to the next step. That's if you're on the Path. No-one's perfect of course, but at least we should know what is beneficial and what is not if we're aiming for eternal life. Before we know it our life is in tatters and we are blaming God!!! How rediculous!

Pride.

There's so much pride around but none of us are willing to own up to it. Pride comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes and disguises. But it's only a temporary state - an unreal mind - and one that cannot exist when the light of Wisdom shines for us one day soon. We can say that it's 'evil', a darkness and a delusion or a manifestation of selfishness a product of the devil! When a light is switched on darkness can no-longer abide, it is completely dispelled. Much to look forward to.

Due to pride we constantly belittle others ignorantly thinking it makes us look better to those around us when in fact we show ourselves up as the lowest. As God explained if we want to be the great in God, we need to be the 'lowest' and not lord it over others.

As pride causes us to off-load our weaknesses on others we create a pile of muck on a slope above us just waiting to reach the point where is cascades down and engulfs us. What you give is what you get, that is the Law. 'But the Path of the righteous is like the light of Dawn growing brighter and brighter until full day'. Prov 4:18

Let those who have ears hear...

No hope?

I will never live without you Lord. Reveal yourself to me. It is not me who speaks it is the Father. We remain in the vine as a branch, we in the Father and the Father in us. It is by Him that we speak - heal - pray - prophecy - LOVE - protect.

Do this and God will fill you with hope again. Darkness will recede.

How to refresh your spirit.

Guilt and condemnation - most people are weighed down by it. Tell the dieter they're fat and they'll eat more. Tell the lusty they're a womaniser - they'll become more so. Point out the sin deridingly so and we are thrown more into it as a source of 'comfort' for the afore - condemned!

It's like a self-fufilling prophecy. Say it and it becomes. Say it and it becomes. Pointing only reinstates the fact / disposition putting it in 'ink'.

Summary: Look for the best, focus on that. Build up don't break down. We all who we want to be - who we aspire to be. If you want to refresh your spirit avoid the mind of condemnation of others around you and be free. Look for the good in all people and situations. Do you remember the film 'Dumb and Dumber' when our 'dumb' hero is told he actually has only 1/1000,000 chance of winning over the girl? He replies; 'Oh so there IS a chance!' Don't focus on the negative, completely ignor the evil and focus on the good aspects. Sometimes acting 'dumb' is better for us than chasing everybodies approval. No-one of this world really cares anyway. Their thoughts are predominantly for themselves. Only God is completely without self-interest. So lets be dumb to the devil's report, but wise to God's plan for us to prosper and succeed where the world says 'NO WAY!'

But how can we actually do this? Practice makes perfect. We are surrounded by challenging situations every day, in this way we are actually really lucky.