In my previous post, I spoke about tune-ups and overhauls. A very important part of any tune-up is cleaning or replacing the filters. On a car the air filter keeps dirt from getting into the engine and choking it. The oil filter keeps debris from getting into the engine causing it to lock up. The fuel filter keeps particles from getting into the fuel system and cutting off the fuel supply. If the water, air, oil, and fuel systems in your vehicle are not kept clean, foreign particles can lead to a breakdown. Like our vehicles, we have systems which must be filtered to keep us functioning well.
As we keep our systems tuned-up, we must make sure that our filters are in place. We must filter what goes into our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual systems, so that we do not find ourselves broken down. If we filter our eyes, ears, nose, and throat, we may find that many things we used to watch, listen to, inhale, and eat will change to help us live healthier and more wholesome lives. If we filter our thoughts, we will probably find ourselves thinking more constructively and productively. If we filter our emotions, things that used to push our buttons will no longer have power over us. If we filter our spirits, we will be less likely to do things which go against our conscience. If we are going to be disciplined for success, we must filter the input so that we can strengthen the output. The better the filtering process, the better we can function. If we are what we eat, and we become what we think, with a good tune-up and a good filtering system, we have an opportunity to change our lives and our direction. If we become tuned-up, tuned-in, and well filtered, our discipline will lead to our success.