Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28).
In this unforgettable paragraph, Jesus stresses the master truth, so utterly fundamental, yet so unsuspected by the world at large, that what really matters is thought. People have always been accustomed to suppose that as long as their deeds conformed to the law, they have done all that can be reasonably expected of them, and that their thoughts and feelings are their own business. But the type of thought that we allow to become habitual will sooner or later find expression on the plane of action.
The logical consequence of this fact is very startling. It means that if you entertain covetous thoughts for your neighbor’s money, you are a thief, even though you may not yet have put your hand in the till. The adulterer at heart is corrupting his soul even though his impure thought is never expressed on the physical plane. Lusts, jealousy, vengeance, mentally entertained, carry the soul’s consent, and this soul-consent is the malice of sin.
Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
This is the core truth at the center of the philosophy and theology of the Good Morning Garden. The simple fact is that we become what we think about, and that our attitude and point of view shapes our reality . The only thing we can truly control in this world is what we think. When faced with this truth, we might ask, “how can I keep every thought pure”? The answer is that we can’t and we are not expected to have all good thoughts. However, with God’s help we can limit bad thoughts and overcome the ones that do get in.
Yes, with God’s help we can avoid many temptations of thought, word and deed. The key is to intervene at the thought level. Refusing to entertain thoughts because they are bad, prevents many wrongful thoughts. If an unsavory thought does find its way into our minds, then we must exorcise it immediately and replace it with an appropriate mental image. God’s help is required for success in both prevention and iradication of such thoughts. Those that malinger in our consciousness and repeats themselves time and again are the ones we really need God’s help to overcome. These pernicious and recurring negative thoughts may have to be overcome for our entire lives. But with God’s help, we can overcome them each day until we can stand alone against them.
If we are “keeping our hearts with due diligence”, we will detour around most of the mental tangles and briars that threaten to choke our gardens. And, when a weed does creep into our gardens, God will empower us to yank them out and throw them in the compost bin if we believe and trust in God’s will. Then we can think and speak and act in harmony, joy and gladness with all things and walk in peace, love and hope each day.
Keeping the heart with diligence,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 
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