Is this saying true?

[dwest2419]

I've heard people say this phrase all the time: "That an idle mind is the devil's workshop"  Do you believe that an "IDLE MIND" is the "DEVIL'S WORKSHOP"?

I have a Christian friend and for whatever reason he just realized that he has really become lazy mentally. For whatever reason, he said he don't know how and why he has a lazy person mentality - that sometimes he seems to just let his mind wander off or don't really like to think on things a lot and reason is he don't like to say much in his mind and he is more often times quieter than usual - and that's how lazy he is mentally.

[phbrown]

i always thought an idle mind doesn't mean a lazy mind

[dwest2419]

If you try typing in "what does a idle mind is the devil's workshop mean" on goggle. You'd be surprised at what kind of information they have on that statement alone really means. I mean there is literally all kinds of information.

[Hasmonean1]

I'm not really sure about that one.  I'm sure the old timers probably based that saying on some scripture.

If we look at an idle mind as being neutral then maybe so.  A person can have a mind stayed on the things of God or mischief or just idle(neutral).  From a standpoint of hot, cold, and lukewarm then maybe.  I'm just taking a stab at it.

[dwest2419]

I'm not really sure about that one.  I'm sure the old timers probably based that saying on some scripture.

If we look at an idle mind as being neutral then maybe so.  A person can have a mind stayed on the things of God or mischief or just idle(neutral).

Yeah, that is the main word "netural" almost as though you really don't have anything occupied on your mind. Meaning, that if your mind is always like that, where nothing is on your mind everyday and to further add that your the type of Christian who don't want to hear even the slightest of a evil thought in your mind, and as your mind become idle(or neutral or not on anything) then it allows the enemy to come and sow seeds in your mind with evil thoughts and then if you start mediating on those thoughts, then sooner or later those thoughts become strongholds in your mind. I was always taught that the battle is the mind. So that is why they say and idle mind is the devils workshop. I must say that you must not let your mind wander off and you wound up losing your focus. Because your focus is what is important! For example, there can be someone cooking and there trying too cook, but at the same time their mind is on something or somebody else. How can you try to think and do something at the same? In other words, if Im cooking then I need to focus and concentrate on cooking, period!

[sjonathan02]

I don't believe the mind is ever 'idle'.  I believe there's always something on one's mind, it just comes down to whether that 'thing' is of/for God, or not.  And, when I say 'of/for God', I mean one can think about their job/family (which they believe God gave to them) and have their mind on the things of God as well. 

[funkStrat_97]

The Devil is always trying to mess with our minds.  But forget about him....our own minds can go to some strange places if we allow it.

[dwest2419]

I always thought "idle mind" referred to a person who really has nothing to do to occupy it (like WORK or education) and so is free to think of whatever mischief pops into their unoccupied head.

You hit the nail on the head, right there sketchman! Your statement is actually what an idle mind is!

I also was told that a Christian friend of mine also thinks or likes to imagine people or individuals a lot in his head because of being idle in his mind (and it is a lot like envisioning seeing mental pictures of things, people, etc...). Simply, I told him that don't accept those pictures and try not to imagine envisioning mental pictures in your head. Because sometimes the devil will put and have you to see all kinds of mental pictures in your head, whether it be of individuals or obscene images or he'll even have you to believe or envision something bad about to happen to you and therefore you start believing what you saw or envision and therefore you become afraid (and you know what the scripture says about fear.)

And sometimes if we want our minds to envision mental pictures in our head and then what we envision seeing that we actually believe in it (actually start believing that the mental picture is really real), then we are really delusional and are deceived. Because last time I read, the scripture says, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." So if you believe in seeing and envisioning mental pictures, then you get what you believe! And the devil knows that particular scripture applies to what Im saying as well. And if he sees the Christian not doing or obeying the Word, then he got the right to mess with you. So we must not believe in fantasying about people or things and stuff, because if the devil can you get you to believe in that type of stuff, then you have been deceived as a Christian and he now got you in bondage.

And so, the devil plays with our mind - our imagination. You have to understand that, something is always trying to pull our attention away from whatever we may be doing. It is like a force of something trying to pull your mind to get you to entertain whatever it is that wants to be entertain. You have to understand you cannot let your mind wander off. Because the next thing you know you start hearing silent whispers and you start envisioning seeing things. When he asked me that do I do the same thing what he does (always envisioning things or people), I told him - I simply don't believe in it, plain n' period! And to add something further to this topic, and that this is the reason why I don't watch obscene videos and obscene pictures in magazines or start fantasying about certain individuals. You have to be careful what you allow or who you allow to penetrate through your eyes because of what you saw or who you saw looked so good in this life or what you been watching lately because it goes strait through the mind and down into our souls - in other words what have you been watching or who have you been watching intently, lately?

And consequently, as of a result of what a person have been watching or what they started entertaining for whatever reason, this what usually happens in life that 99% percent of the time, that this is how people who are interested in a person and they like a certain person and they want that particular person to be as a type of a girlfriend or boyfriend when they're wanting or desiring them to be in a relationship with them, and that they some how now realize that they cant have or cant seem to get with the person that they want to be with, and that there really and desperately want them so bad that they cant have the person, as a result what wound up happening is that then they would often envision seeing that particular's person face in their mind and they start fantasying or envision having sexual intercourse with that person - all in their mind! Why? Because they believe what they envision seeing and doing all at the same time. And the scripture says, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." So if you believe in seeing and envisioning mental pictures, then you get what you believe! Because if the devil can you get you to believe in that type of stuff, then you have been deceived as a Christian and he now got you in bondage. And again the devil knows the Word and he uses it against us. That is why we have to not let our minds take us anywhere it wants to go. Peace!

[Hasmonean1]

This sounds a lot like a person with an empty spirit.  Someone who has been delivered but never got rooted in God so that the enemy comes back in and that seed never comes to full maturity.


Luke 11:24-26

24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

[dwest2419]

Now this is the thread I was looking for. This thread connects or runs parallel to with the discussions we been having in the thread called: "Can we speak things into existence?"

In that thread we were talking about the power of thoughts and confession. Now what I want to say is as it relates to this thread, which I think is important, and that is to not have a idle mind (keeping your mind neutral) In other words, you let your mind take you wherever it wants to take you. Having that type of mindset can allow the devil to sow seeds in your mind that can cause you to do and say things that are not pleasing in the sight of God. And like Hasmonean1 said that having an idle mind (or empty mind) sounds a lot like a person with an empty spirit.

Now what I was saying earlier in the "Can we speak things into existence?" thread is that many people (and some Christians) do not believe in positive thinking or positive confession. And, as a matter of fact, Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Even the Bible tells us we should be constantly be thinking of good things, and always having good things stayed on our mind. Which is why in my thread called: "Can we speak things into existence?" and what I got from that thread is that I should be constantly be thinking on good things. The reason why it is important to be always thinking and having your mind stayed on good things (or on God for that matter) is that this way the devil can't come in and occupy your mind, unless your mind is idle and there is nothing on your mind at the very moment or else the devil will come and put a evil thought on your mind and cause you to think on his thoughts. (And you don't want that happening, do you?) So develop having a positive mindset. No matter how hard it may seem. You might have a excuse, such as I don't know what to think. Here's some thoughts you can think on, such as...

1."I'm beautiful!" < Meditate on this particular thought for the whole day, whether your driving, on the computer, watching television, cooking, doing chores, etc...
2."I'm creative!"
3."I love my kids!"
4."I want to go back and finish school!"
5."I love my wife!"
6."I love my husband!"

There so much good things to meditate on.... (So get started today!)

As a matter of fact, I know a fellow Christian brother of mine who dealt with those problems (keeping his mind idle.) He would always allow his mind to become neutral (or idle or on nothing good on his mind - basically not doing what the Word says do!) and what he noticed is that the devil would come and put evil thoughts on his mind. And as a result, what happened to him, he was placed into a hospital because of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts (no kidding! - all jokes aside here!). So I'm here to let you know that I believe in positive thinking! You see when you have good things on your mind you don't create no room for the devil to come and occupy your mind with anything; and whether it be foolishness, evil, lustful, or degrading, he can't put none of his thoughts on your mind.(Why?) Because your mind is currently stayed on something (hopefully something good!)

Now having said all that, now do you believe in positive thinking?