I was listening to a podcast recently about the dark web. The “dark web” is place on the internet where anyone can operate with complete anonymity. It is almost as if those who surf the dark web are invisible because they can do anything without being identified. They can operate in the dark. What I learned from that show was more about the human condition than the dangers of the dark web. When we think there are no consequences to our actions; when we think no one can see what we are doing, our hearts often go to a dark and evil place. We may find ourselves doing things that, if we were operating in the light, we wouldn’t even think of doing. That is why believers need to continually be on guard. We need to continually pray that our hearts are not drawn to what is evil. Because if left to our own devices, I’m convinced that it is in our nature to desire it. Instead, we should pray Psalm 141, verse 4, which says:
“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.”
Sin can be enticing. We can often be tempted to do what we know is disobedience to God. That is why we need to be on guard. We all go through our highs and lows. There are times when we are close to God and there are times we are far from him. There are times when we are high in the clouds or in the promised land so to speak, and there are times when we find ourselves in the valley or in the desert. Anyone can fall to sin. And most of us have no idea how far we can fall. So I encourage you to pray this prayer from Psalm 141: “Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.” To think that any of us are mature and righteous enough that we can resist any temptation is arrogant and dangerous. David, a man after God’s heart, committed adultery. Moses, the chosen deliverer of the Israelites, murdered someone. Peter, upon whom Jesus said he’d build his church, denied Christ three times. And Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, turned to worshipping other gods. We can also fall. So I encourage you to pray that the Holy Spirit help you to stand firm.
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Denying our flesh is a daily battle. That is why Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow him. We can’t succeed on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. We need to continually guard our heart. In Ephesians, Paul talks about the “breastplate of righteousness”. The breastplate guards the heart if its wearer. How is your heart today? Are you allowing it to be drawn to what is evil? Are you taking part in wicked deeds? Are you indulging in the delicacies of sin? Any of us are subject to finding ourselves in that place. So I encourage you to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”