Daily Chizuk #1359

Parashat Kedoshim: Bringing Holiness into Your Life
The pasuk tells us in this week's parasha, קדושים תהיו. And Rashi writes, this is a command to distance ourselves from forbidden relationships. And the more fences we put up to protect ourselves from them, the more kedusha we bring into our lives.
A person's thoughts are his essence. We think with our neshama. Our thoughts are directly connected to Hashem. And thus, we find the Torah giving special commandments on thoughts alone. The pasuk says, ונשמרתם מכל דבר רע, which Chazal tell us means, we must keep our thoughts pure, and are prohibited from thinking about a forbidden relationship.
Part of protecting our thoughts is protecting ourselves from what we see. Especially in today's times, this is a very big challenge. And because the test is so difficult, it makes the rewards that much greater. Every time a person turns away from seeing the wrong thing, he becomes more kadosh, and stands out above the crowds in the eyes of Hashem. When we do extra things to protect ourselves, it makes Hashem even prouder.
The more we protect ourselves, the more kadosh we become.
Shabbat Shalom!