Where does sin start in most of our lives? If the truth were known, it starts with laziness. We lackadaisically allow our minds begin to wander in areas we know are not spiritually beneficial at best; or areas leading to destructive sin at worst. That “wandering” leads to focusing. “Focusing” leads to debating within ourselves why this ungodly thing would be satisfying, fulfilling, beneficial or needed. Once we get to this point, we open ourselves up to the destructive power of sin. It all starts with “laziness.” As Christians we can't afford to be lazy...not even for one moment. The remnants of our sin natures will seize upon our laziness, and before we realize it, our enemy Satan will gain a foothold in our lives. God's word tells us “stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13); “be of sober spirit, be on alert” (1 Peter 5:8); “flee from lusts” “refuse foolish and ignorant speculations” (2 Timothy 2:22-23); “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise... because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

If we don't get this “laziness” under control it will eventually destroy us spiritually, emotionally, physically. An antonym of laziness is “hard work”...”disciplined work.” The faithful Christian life is “hard work”...”disciplined work.” None of us can afford to be lackadaisical in what we allow ourselves to think about. We must train our minds to think after God. Not an easy task, but it starts with filling our minds with God's word.

Today's My Utmost for His Highest highlights this point:

“Many of us are all right for the most part, but we're still lazy about certain things. It isn't sin that makes us this way; it's the remnants of our old carnal life, the life we led before we were born again in the Spirit. Carelessness and laziness are an insult to the Holy Spirit. There should be nothing careless about us, whether it's in the way we eat and drink or the way we worship God.

Not only must our relationship to God be right; the way we express that relationship must be right, too. Ultimately God will let nothing about us escape His attention. He keeps every detail of our lives under His scrutiny. In numberless ways, God will bring us back to the same issue over and over again until we learn our lesson. The issue may be our impulsiveness or our independent individuality or our tendency to let our thoughts run away with us. No matter what it is, God will bring us back to it again and again until He has made us fully aware of the thing that isn't right. He'll never tire, and He won't stop—not until He has achieved the finished work.

Thanks to God's wonderful work in you, you know that you are all right in what matters most: your relationship to Him. Now “let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Watch out when you start letting things slide, or when you hear yourself saying, “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever the issue, God will point it out with persistent patience until you are entirely His.”

When it comes to laziness / lackadaisicalness...where we allow our thoughts, our emotions to be unbridled, we take our cue from the Lord Jesus' vigilance when He was tempted to allow His mind to wander. Notice how He handled it: “it is written...it is written” (Matther 4:1-11). A major part of the “”hard work” “disciplined work” of the Christian is the memorization of scripture. Jesus was able to stand firm against letting His mind wander because He could quote appropriate scripture. This is our antidote...this is the kind of “discipline” we all need. This is our prayer today:

“Keep me far from every wrong; help me, undeserving as I am, to obey Your word, for I have chosen to do right. 31 I cling to Your words and follow them as closely as I can. Lord, don't let me make a mess of things. 32  Help me to want Your will, then I will follow Your word even more closely.“ (Psalm 119: 29-32 TLB). Amen.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.