It’s Halloween, and I’m filled with childhood memories of how much fun it was getting candy as a child. I couldn’t wait to get home and see what I wanted to eat first — ha ha! Now that I have three children of my own, it’s even more fun seeing things through their eyes.

Halloween is about dressing up in fun, silly costumes and filling candy bags full of things that will cause a cavity or two. We walk with our children from house to house and let them fill their bags with goodies.

Halloween can also invite evil into our midst. Our children need to know not only right from wrong, but right from “almost right.” We know they are filling their bags with candy, but what are they (and we) filling our minds with?

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.”

What things are filling our children’s minds? What things are occupying our own minds? What content are we all looking at on social media? Who are we following on Instagram? Do they post things that go against our core values? Are we watching movies that Jesus could sit down on the couch next to us and watch? Would He approve?

Let’s pay attention to the Lord’s prompting on our hearts. He warns us to be careful. We want our children (and ourselves) to be so wrapped up in godly things that we quickly sense evil. Let’s pray for discernment so we can recognize when the evil one sugarcoats things.

We can have fun today, but we can also keep God at the center of all of our decisions! While our children fill their treat bags, let’s also make sure we fill their minds with godly things.

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut. 6:7)

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.