“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure… think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
The Conviction I Didn’t Expect
My interest in crime goes back years. I used to love horror movies and would spend countless hours watching the crime channel and true crime dramas. I remember sitting up late at night watching Forensic Files, only to end up scared by what I had just seen.
But after I gave my heart to the Lord, He began to work on me. Over time, He gently gave me a distaste—even a deep grief—for the very things that once captivated me. He started pruning my desires and helping me see these forms of entertainment for what they truly are: darkness packaged for consumption.
Still, despite that progress, I recently found myself drawn to the Diddy case. Honestly, if I lived in New York, I probably would have wanted to be on the jury. I was following every update and headline, especially during the first week of jury selection. My fascination started to bother me. At first, I told myself it was just curiosity. Maybe I just needed to take a break?
But after a few days, I realized the content itself was too dark to digest daily. Even though I was genuinely interested, I couldn’t honestly say my motives were pure before God. I knew I had to lay it down.
So I did what I’ve learned to do when conviction stirs: I brought it to the Lord.
When Curiosity Crosses a Line
In that quiet space, I asked the Lord some honest, searching questions:
• What’s drawing me to this?
• Why do I find it so captivating?
• Is my motive truly to see justice, or am I just being entertained by brokenness?
God gently revealed something deeper. It wasn’t just about what I was watching—it was about why. Was I feeding my flesh or nurturing my spirit?
I couldn’t help but think of the sixth commandment:
“Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13, KJV)
At first, it seemed unrelated to media consumption. But the more I prayed, the more I realized—so much of what we consume turns someone’s death or trauma into entertainment. Even when it’s fictional or dramatized, it still reflects real-life pain. And there I was—curious, captivated, consuming it without question.
Was I honoring God’s law if someone’s suffering had become my source of entertainment?
Though I wasn’t a willing participant, I was certainly a curious spectator.
What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?
I had to confront a difficult truth: I was holding onto something the Lord was asking me to release.
So I thought to myself:
• Am I willing to lay this down to protect my heart and mind?
• Am I willing to sacrifice “being in the know” to remain close to God?
• Am I willing to let God break my heart for what breaks His—and take me deeper?
Sometimes a fast or a temporary break isn’t enough. Fasts are helpful, but they’re not permanent. And if the heart isn’t transformed, we’ll always return to what we left behind. Some things don’t just need to be paused—they need to be surrendered.
The Science Behind It: How Negative Content Affects the Brain
This isn’t just a spiritual issue—it’s also biological. The brain is shaped by what it consumes.
Studies have shown that repeated exposure to violent or emotionally disturbing content increases cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone), keeping the brain in a heightened state of alert. This can:
• Disrupt sleep patterns
• Increase anxious or intrusive thoughts
• Lead to emotional numbing or irritability
• Contribute to depression
• Impair your ability to focus, feel peace, or rest in God’s presence
Just like junk food affects the body, junk input affects the mind. Over time, we begin to crave what we consistently feed on—even if it’s unhealthy. Our mental wiring begins to change, and it becomes harder to feel joy, calm, or connection with God.
How This Affects Your Mind Spiritually
The impact doesn’t stop at the brain—it reaches the soul. Consuming dark or toxic content affects your spirit in powerful ways:
1. It Disconnects You from God
When your mind is filled with chaos, violence, or trauma—even through entertainment—it becomes harder to hear God’s still, small voice. His peace is drowned out by the noise.
2. It Makes the Things of God Feel Boring
Prayer, worship, and reading the Word may begin to feel dry or unsatisfying—not because God has changed, but because your appetite has. When you’ve been feeding on high-stimulation content, the things of God can seem “slow” or even dull.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good…” – Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
But when your taste has been corrupted, even goodness starts to feel bland.
3. It Opens the Door to Spiritual Oppression
What you feed on regularly can become a spiritual doorway. Prolonged exposure to darkness—whether through violence, perversion, or fear—can invite torment, confusion, fear, and even demonic harassment.
These aren’t just “harmless shows.” They are spiritually charged. And when we engage with them carelessly, we grant the enemy access to our thoughts, emotions, and peace.
“Neither give place to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:27 (KJV)
What you entertain, you invite—and what you invite, you eventually have to confront.
What’s Keeping Your Mind?
So now, I ask you:
What is keeping your mind?
Philippians 4:8 gives us a beautiful and necessary filter:
“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.”
Think to yourself:
• Are the things I’m consuming good for my heart?
• Do they draw my mind closer to God—or farther from Him?
• Am I feeding my spirit—or entertaining my flesh?
Because what you consume, you will eventually crave.
And what you crave, you will eventually become.
A Closing Prayer
Lord, search my heart and show me anything I’ve allowed in that grieves Your Spirit. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Help me to surrender—not just for a season, but fully. Purify my mind, and restore my hunger for what is good, lovely, and true. Let my eyes and ears be gateways to Your presence, not distractions from it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
With love,
Denetra
C&C Ministries
