I love to walk a path near our home. As I walk, I also pray. Recently, however, I had more and more difficulty walking down my path. The weeds were taking it over, so I trimmed the weeds back out of the way.

I have two reasons for keeping this path trimmed. The first is so that I can walk my path without any hindrances. The second is so that I can keep the path from looking like a desirable place for snakes to hide.

Our lives and our thought lives need to be kept free from weeds, too. The apostle Paul reminds us:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV)

Many things can act like weeds in the gardens of our thought lives. Many television shows, movies, books and magazines that have ungodly material in them can prove to be weeds in our minds. Negative, cynical, ugly, harsh, and unkind articles that fill up so many of our modern publications are often weeds to our right thinking. Listening to unkind and gossip-filled talk can produce weeds in our thought world. Once again, the apostle Paul reminds us of God's truth:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Let's keep the weeds out!
Weeds will take over the gardens of our minds if we don't eradicate them and keep them out. We want to keep our walk with the Lord unhindered, so let's keep the weeds out. On this path that we call life, let's keep the weeds trimmed back, so that nothing hinders our walk. Keeping those weeds trimmed back will also help keep the old snake we know as the devil out of our path, too.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)