Maria #129 DO 2647 5/90

—A Reminder & Warning to Techi from Mama!

1. You may think you can stop misbehaving any time you want, but you decide that you just don't want to right now because it's easier to be bad & it's harder to try to be good. And you may feel that it's a lot easier just to let yourself go & daydream than it is to try real hard to concentrate on what you know you're supposed to be doing or the Letter you're supposed to be reading. Or when you're supposed to be cleaning your room, you may think it's a lot easier just to goof off.

2. You may think‚ "Well, some time when I feel like I'm ready to work real hard, then I'll stop being bad & start being good.—But I want to enjoy myself now." The problem with that, Honey, is that when you decide that you're ready to be good, not only will it be hard‚ it may be almost impossible! Take your daydreaming, for example: You have daydreamed for so long & so often that now when you want to concentrate & not daydream, you find that you can't help it, you still daydream anyway.

3. When you decide that you're going to start being diligent at your jobs & get them done quickly, you may find that the bad habits of goofing off & lack of diligence are very strong, & that it's very hard for you to do a good job because you're so used to daydreaming & letting your mind wander wherever it wants to‚ & do whatever it wants.

4. I want to warn you that you are unprotected when you're like that!—You're not "bringing your thoughts into captivity" or ruling over your own spirit. The Word says, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, & without walls."—Pro.25:28. When you habitually just let your mind wander off like that‚ it's like your defenses are down & you're unguarded.—And when your spiritual "walls" are down‚ you're leaving yourself wide open for the Devil's attacks, & the Devil's bad thoughts can come & easily enter your mind & trouble you.

5. When your mind becomes so used to not working & just taking the path of least resistance, it is then no longer prepared to resist & fight the attacks of the Enemy. If it hasn't been exercising to make itself strong, it becomes very weak & powerless against the Devil's attacks. An unguarded or undisciplined mind like that can become like a robot that the Devil can just take over & use however he wants‚ & you'll have no more say in the matter. Only the wonderful power of Jesus & very hard, hard work on your part can help you to be able to win your mind back for the Lord.—So let's go on the attack with the powerful weapons He has given us, amen? PTL!

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal‚ but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, & every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, & bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2Cor.10:3-5)

QUESTIONS

4) If you find that it's easier to misbehave when you should be obeying, daydream when you should be reading the Word, or goof off when you should be "pressing in" on a chore, is it OK for you to assume, "Sometime later when I feel like I'm ready to behave & obey & work hard, then I'll stop being bad!"? Why or why not? Do you sometimes think like this? Please tell us about it.

5) When you habitually let your mind wander off whenever it wants, why are you then much more open to & unprotected from the Devil's attacks & bad thoughts?

6) Though daydreaming & "spacing–out" may sometimes seem like the easiest thing to do, & may seem more enjoyable than the hard work of having to concentrate on things, why is it worth the hard work & constant battle to "bring your thoughts into captivity" to the Lord?

7) Did this Letter speak to your heart about the seriousness & dangers of daydreaming? How often would you say your mind wanders & daydreams?

1. Very often, a lot of the time.
2. Frequently, maybe half the time.
3. Not so often, just every now & then.
4. Hardly ever.

Please explain.

8) Knowing the seriousness of having an undisciplined & habitually–daydreaming mind, that it will become very weak & almost powerless against the Devil's attacks, do you need to go more on the attack against daydreaming? Can you think of anything your Shepherds can do to help you? How can you help yourself? Would you like to have united prayer against it & a Word study on it?

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