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Most of us have no idea how many images pass before our eyes in a single day—or how deeply some of them affect us. Many seem harmless at first glance, yet certain images linger, quietly planting seeds that can eventually grow into thoughts, desires, habits, and choices we never intended. It may all begin with something as simple as a look. I invite you to read more by clicking below.
We move through our days surrounded by things competing for our attention. Some come through screens, others through everyday life. A quick scroll, a passing glance, a commercial, a billboard, something we notice in a store, or something we see in another person’s life. None of it feels like a big deal. In fact, most of it feels completely normal.
But when we slow down and really look at it, we begin to see just how much of our life is shaped by what we are looking at.
Too often, people read Jesus’ words, The lamp of the body is the eye, and think only of lust or inappropriate images. That is certainly part of it. But there are so many other ways things enter into our eyes and begin to shape our hearts.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways this happens.
The following is a list of some of the ways we often allow things to enter through our eyes:
- We scroll through Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, looking at other people’s lives, their homes, their vacations, their highlight reels, and quietly comparing.
- We open YouTube and end up watching video after video, long after we meant to stop.
- We sit with our phones playing games like Solitaire, Wordle, Candy Crush, or other puzzles, telling ourselves it’s harmless, yet losing large chunks of time.
- We browse Amazon or other sites, clicking through things we don’t need, slowly convincing ourselves that we do.
- We watch TV shows, movies, or streaming content where we know certain scenes or images are coming, yet we keep watching anyway.
- We pause, rewind, or linger just a little longer than we should on something we know is pulling us in the wrong direction.
- We scroll through photos or profiles, looking at people in ways we know are not healthy or not right.
- We watch the news over and over, taking in images that stir frustration, anger, or fear.
- We click on headlines or stories that feed on gossip, scandal, or the failures of other people.
- We look at what others own, their cars, their boats, their RVs, their homes, and feel that pull of wanting more.
- We notice advertisements, displays, or things in stores that create desires we did not have before.
- We stand in front of a mirror, or look at pictures of ourselves, focusing only on appearance, comparing, judging, wishing.
- We keep looking, not because we need anything, but simply because we cannot seem to look away.
And we all need to ask ourselves, do we spend more time looking at these things than we do looking toward God in prayer?
Let’s take this one step further.
Not everything on that list is bad in itself. Some of it can be good. Helpful, even. Many of us spend time watching Christian videos, listening to sermons, or following faith-based content online. There is nothing wrong with that.
But we all need to be honest with ourselves here as well. Do we spend more time watching others talk about faith than we spend actually living it? Do we move from one message to another, yet never step away to serve, or to love the people right in front of us?
Even noble pursuits—like Christian videos or sermons—can subtly shift from fuel to filler if they eclipse real relationships. At some point, we have to look up, because our faith was never meant to be something we simply watch: it was meant to be something we live.
Think about this. We don’t fall into most sins suddenly. We look our way into them. One glance becomes a second look, and a second look becomes something we return to again and again. Over time, what enters through our eyes takes root in our heart.
This is why the words of Jesus carry such weight when He says, The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness (Matthew 6:22–23). These words speak to all of it, not just one struggle, but every way our attention can be pulled and our hearts can be shaped.
Breaking free from some of these patterns can be quite challenging. They have a way of pulling at us day after day, quietly drawing us back in. We need to have a plan, become more aware, and begin making small, intentional choices about what we allow into our lives through our eyes.
Breaking free from our habits is not easy. It is difficult, but we must keep trying. We keep asking God to help us do better, because this matters. What we allow through our eyes will shape our hearts.
I invite you to listen to the song whose lyrics I wrote to accompany today’s message.
Heavenly Father, Scripture tells me, “turn my eyes away from what is worthless; by Your way give me life.” Help me to live that prayer. Give me the strength to turn away when I need to and the desire to fix my eyes on Your Son Jesus. Amen.
AMDG
AMDG is a Latin abbreviation for “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” which means “For the Greater Glory of God.”
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
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