Of The Flesh or Of The Spirit?

 I have had this question for a while, concerning a few things that I own. I just asked a dear friend of mine, who is like a grandmother to me, that question. I have two things for that question. I'll give you the first. I bought a shirt at Walmart a while back. Super cute shirt, modest, might need to be brought up just a little, and it came with a necklace. I like the necklace, I think it's cute. But it's a dream catcher. I knew that this most likely did not please God, but my question, was, if I don't even believe in the whole dream catcher thing and wore it, but it still dis-pleased God, should I get rid of it. Her answer, was that if I felt uncomfortable every time I put the necklace on, then maybe it was God trying to tell me that He didn't like it. I don't feel that way, I feel like it is just a necklace that jingles when I walk. ;D 

  My second object, was, there is a book series that I read. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Now, I have loved these books, but I KNOW that they dis-please God. I had the same problem. I don't believe any of it. (If you don't know what it's about, I'll give a short summary. The Greek 'gods' are real, they have kids with mortals who become demi-gods, and they fight monsters and try to survive.) So, if I don't believe any of it, and just enjoy the writing, should I get rid of them because God doesn't like them, or is it okay if I keep them for entertainment. Her answer had a Bible verse as an example. 
   
    Romans 8:5

'For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who love according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.' 

  So, I realized (along with help from my friend) ;) that by keeping the books, and reading them, were stumbling blocks for me in my faith. By reading them, and keeping them in my room, I was living by the flesh and not by the Spirit. 

  I encourage you all, to think about the things that you do, or read, or have in your bedroom, and ask yourself, 'is this pleasing to God?' If we clean out the junk in our lives, maybe it will help us to focus on the more important things like honoring God, and having a fear of him. 

  When I was younger, I would often hear the phrase 'fear of God and fear of man'. I never understood what it meant, until one day when I was in Bright Lights (a Bible study for young girls) when one of the lessons was about the Fear of God. The book gave a demonstration of what the difference of the fear of man is and the Fear of God, and it made sense to me. Think of this. You are looking at say.... a shirt you want to buy (girls. ;P) But you aren't quite sure about it. Say you think, 'what will Billy Bob at school think of me if I wore this shirt?' That is fear of man. Wondering what man will think of you. (Not just man, but women to. What I say 'fear of man' I mean, 'fear of human'. We'll say that. We'll say fear of human) ;D  

   But, if we alter our thinking to Fear of God, we would think as we look at that shirt, 'what would God think?' would He think that it was modest? Pleasing to Him? And by having fear of God, we can clean out the things that the devil might tempt us with. So, my challenge for you this week: Try cleaning out your room by the fear of God. I still have a lot of work to do on mine. :/ :) 

 Have a good day. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. ;D