Disturbed

Earlier today I was expecting an email that had not arrived. Impatiently, I went into my spam file on gmail to see if it had been placed there. Yes, I have at this moment 8117 pieces of spam. Much of this junk mail is due to the fact that I sign up for freebies and register at websites to access coupons. Nonetheless, I was surprised by some of the subject lines. About one in ten had a questionable subject.

So I decided to check out Sean's spam box. I have no reason to be suspicious, but I was just curious. I know that he doesn't put his email address out there nearly as much. He had only about 500 spam messages, yet I was disturbed by what I saw there. Nearly fourth of them were of an inappropriate and sensual nature. They had never been opened, yet there they were just a click away. I've heard it said that it only takes one image to change a man's life.

I was driven to my knees in prayer. Our men, our sons, our nephews, our son-in-laws, our grandsons, our leaders are being attacked at every side. It certainly is one thing to seek out and entertain sin of this nature. It is another thing to be bombarded with images on the streets or to see it on a public computer screen at the library (this is a common problem for us.) I consider it an outright attack for one's email address to be likely sold for a profit and then to be sent message after message inviting and enticing men to look further.

There is no mistake. Each man (and woman) is accountable for their own choices. Yet, it is clearer to me than ever that the enemy is on the hunt for the eyes and hearts of our men boys and men.

I began to ponder the solutions. More filters for the computer? We already subscribe to Covenant Eyes. This provides accountability, but additional filters would be good. Legislation? Contact appropriate authorities about internet pornography/email and privacy laws. Boycott the internet? Possibly. At this point my children do not have access, but currently Sean's job requires internet access for him to complete his work.

Truly my solutions may help (me feel better, mostly), but they fall short. God's Word does not.

His Word is our filter and through it our minds can and will be transformed.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Psalm 119:9-11
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you."

He is our Authority and He supersedes all the schemes of the Devil. He is strong to save.

Psalm 147:6-7
"Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me."

His Spirit is in us to empower us to live in this world for Christ's sake, but not be become part of it.

1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."


Now more than ever, we must be women of prayer and careful attention to God's Word. We must be aware, alert and not ignorant to what our men face each and every day. We must be proactive. We must assume responsibility for our own actions- what we watch, subscribe to, read and wear.

Game on.