Have you ever gone out with no intention of buying anything, only to return home having spent money on something you didn’t need—but that felt right in the moment?
That’s not just a coincidence. We live in a world that is designed to stimulate the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. While this isn’t always a bad thing, it’s often done with a clear purpose – to influence your decisions without you even realising it.
Think about it. Walk into a shop and what do you notice? Soft lighting, soothing music, maybe even the smell of coffee or baked goods in the air. Shops don’t just sell products – they sell experiences. They know that by creating a sensory-rich environment, they are more likely to get you to spend.
But this kind of sensory influence doesn’t stop at shopping. Spiritually speaking, the same thing happens. Negative forces use your senses to tempt, distract, and lead you away from God’s will. It doesn’t always come with obvious traps. Sometimes it’s just a subtle feeling, an attractive option, or a moment of comfort that pulls you off course – just like the serpent suggested to Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Let’s take taste as another example. Imagine someone who’s on a diet, trying to make better food choices. They know sugar is not good for them, but a beautiful slice of cake is sitting right in front of them. It looks delicious, smells amazing, and they remember how good it tastes. The temptation is strong and often, it wins.
Spiritually, it’s quite similar. There are “flavours” in life that appeal to our flesh – gossip, revenge, pride and laziness. They may taste sweet in the moment, but they are harmful in the long run. Maturity in faith means developing a spiritual “palate” – learning to enjoy what’s good for your soul. Just as a healthy eater learns to say no to junk food, a spiritually mature person learns to say no to harmful desires and distractions.
So, are you careful about what you watch? Are the people around you encouraging you towards faith or away from it? Do your conversations reflect God’s will?
In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:12 reminds us that: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.” This is where discernment comes in – knowing when to say no, even when something seems harmless on the surface.
Spiritual maturity means not being dominated by your senses or your feelings. It means choosing what feeds your faith not just what feels good in the moment. Just like physical fitness requires consistency, discipline and effort, spiritual
fitness requires a daily walk with God, reading and meditating on His Word, praying and staying alert to the influence of the senses.
It’s not always easy, but the result is strength, clarity, and peace. When your senses are trained, you begin to see the traps coming and instead of falling, you stand firm.
Join us for the Defending Our Faith Bible Study on Wednesday 16th July. We will be learning how to take control of our senses and stay led by faith, not by feelings.
Event: Defending our Faith Bible Study
Day and time: Wednesday 16th July at 7:30pm (also at 7am, 10am and 3pm)
Location: Your local Universal Church
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