THE THINGS WE THINK ON ARE THE THINGS THAT FEED OUR SOULS. If we think on pure and good things we shall grow like them, and the opposite is equally true. Very few people realize this, and consequently they are careless in regard to their thoughts. They guard their words and actions with care, but their thoughts, which after all are the very root of everything in character and life, they neglect entirely.

So long as it is not put into spoken words, it seems of no consequence at all as to what goes on within the mind. No one hears or knows, and therefore they imagine that the vagrant thoughts that come and go do no harm.

Such persons are very careless about the food offered to their thoughts and accept without discrimination anything that comes. The laws of hygiene are as absolute in the realm of spirit as in the realm of the physical. These laws work on inexorably, whether we know it or not; and unconsciously we may be degrading our soul life by the thoughts we are indulging, the books we are reading, or the company we are keeping.

Neither will little doses of suitable food now and then do. One hour of a Christ-like way of looking at things will not make much headway in the matter of the soul’s health against ten hours of unchristian ways.

I do not mean literally have Christ in our thoughts every moment, but rather have faith in Him at the bottom of our thoughts, as the foundation upon which they all rest. --- H.W. Smith (adapted)

YOU CANNOT PREVENT THOSE THOUGH FROM ARISING, but you can prevent yourself from dwelling on them; you can put them aside. By the practice of such control of your thoughts you will attain that spirit which draws the soul close to God.  ---  Jean N. Grou (adapted)

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.*Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil… Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass on. *He is able to help people who are tempted because He was tempted. *In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” 2 PETER 2:9 KJV; PROVERBS 4:14, 15 ASV; HEBREWS 2:18; ROMANS 8:37 KJV

TEMPTATION IS NOT SIN. IT IS ONLY WHEN WE YIELD THAT IT BECOMES SIN. ‘You cannot help the birds flying over your head, but you can help them building nests in your hair.’

You cannot help the suggestion of evil coming, but you can help harboring it, and allowing it to rest in your mind till it hatches its brood. Dismissed at once it leaves no stain.

Thoughts of evil only become evil thoughts when we invite them in and offer them a chair, and entertain them.  ---  E. Stanley Jones (adapted)