It’s So Critical: What We Allow Into Our Minds and Hearts

My six-year-old loves to play music.

All he has to do is shout, “Alexa, play—!” and suddenly the living room becomes a stage. He laughs, dances, spins in circles, and I can’t help but watch with joy. There’s an innocence in him I never want to lose, and yes… there’s also a part of me that wants to be the “cool mom.” So usually, whatever song he wants, I let him play.

Right now, he’s in a K-pop demon hunters phase—don’t ask me how we got here—and “Golden” is at the top of his playlist. Christian parents seem split about trendy music, and honestly, I’ve always lived on the fence. I want my kids surrounded by things that edify them… not things that slowly rot their minds. At the same time, I don’t want to be rigid or disconnected from the world they’re growing up in.

This past weekend taught me something.

 My child told Alexa to play “Turn Down for What” by Lil Jon.

Now listen—I remember this song from back in the day. It’s loud, it’s hype, and it’s basically an anthem for keeping the party going. And even though I’m not big on rap, and the older I get the less I can tolerate blaring music, I stayed quiet because… well, “cool mom,” right?

But then I heard the lyrics.

“Fire up that loud / another round of shots…”

Translation?

Light the weed. Pour the alcohol. Don’t stop the party.

Suddenly, I looked at my six-year-old—this tiny, impressionable human—and I had to ask myself:

Is this what I want shaping him?

Is this the message I want him to absorb before he even knows what the words mean?

The answer was simple and clear: No.

He’s too precious, too tender, too unaware of how deeply the things we consume take root in us.

And in that moment, something hit me…

This wasn’t just about my child.

This was about me.

This was about us.

Because the truth is:

It is never too early—and never too late—to be intentional about what we allow into our minds and hearts.

The Lesson I Walked Away With

What we take in—through music, conversations, shows, social media, friendships, environments—slowly becomes the soil of our lives.

It shapes:

- how we think,

- what we believe,

- what we justify,

- what we desire,

- and ultimately… the decisions we make.

You don’t have to be six years old for something to influence you.

You can be 26, 46, or 66… your heart still absorbs. Your mind still records. Your spirit still reacts.

What we allow in becomes the foundation of who we are becoming.

If I want my child to be intentional about what he consumes, then I have to be intentional too.

If I want to live a life of purpose, peace, wisdom, and spiritual clarity, I cannot casually invite chaos, confusion, or compromise into my world.

If you want the best life possible…

you must guard your heart and guard your mind.

You must choose what enters your atmosphere.

Not out of fear.

Not out of judgment.

But out of a deep desire to live healthy, whole, and anchored.

Final Thought

You don’t have to live scared of the world. But you should live aware.

Your mind is precious.

Your heart is sacred.

Your life is too meaningful to hand over to whatever wants your attention.

Guard your gates.

Choose with intention.

And protect the environment of your own becoming.

Here’s a few Reflection Questions to Help You Decide What to Allow In:

1. Does this feed my spirit or drain it?

2. Does this align with the person I’m trying to become?

3. Would I be comfortable with my child (or someone I mentor) consuming this?

4. Does this shape my thoughts toward peace, purpose, and clarity?

5. Will this plant seeds in my heart that I’m willing to harvest later? (Because everything you allow in eventually produces something.)

Here’s my Prayer for you today:

Father,

Thank You for the gift of a sound mind and a tender heart. Today, I ask that You give the reader wisdom to recognize what is nourishing and what is harmful. Guard their thoughts, protect their spirit, and help them choose what leads to peace, growth, and purpose. Let every influence that enters their life draw them closer to who You designed them to be. Surround them with clarity, strength, and discernment as they build a life rooted in truth.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.