“What’s on the inside of us will come out…just like a sponge when it’s squeezed. So, the question is what are we producing or focused on on the inside so something good- something godly- comes out? Check out Matthew 12.34.” –Joy

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Matthew 12.34-35

What a great representation of how our reactions are determined by our inner life: what’s in the sponge comes out when pressure is applied. You may be tempted to read this scripture and think, “I’m not storing up evil in myself!” But maybe ask yourself this instead: “Am I storing up worry? Am I storing up fear? Am I storing up unforgiveness? Am I storing up pride?” And while you’re at it: “When I’m stressed, do I react in anger? When I hear good news about someone else, do I feel envious? When I don’t get what I want, do I fly into a rage?” These things (and more) put distance between you and God, and cause you to react in ways that put distance between you and the people around you as well. Don’t get me wrong- because we’re broken people, living in a broken world, we all make mistakes. Many factors can lead to wrong reactions, but if you’re noticing a pattern of ungodly reactions, you have to look at what’s fueling them. If you’ve come across this blog and you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe you’re reading this for a reason. You can’t change your reactions (at least not for long) without letting Jesus change your heart first. 

If you are a believer already, let’s talk about some practical ways to avoid storing up evil, as well as some ways to store up good in your heart. 

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What Are You Putting In?

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5.8

The enemy of our souls is sneaky, deceptive, and manipulative. He knows you’re probably not going to be tempted to murder someone out of the blue…he’s much more subtle than that. There are many ways he can try to pull you away from God. Things that might be fine for others may cause us to walk down a dangerous path. 

• Ask God for eyes to see where you’re allowing sin in your life. Ask Him to show you where you’re getting ideas that go against Him. 
• Pay attention to your thoughts- your thoughts about God, your thoughts about others, and your thoughts about yourself. They may hold clues that you’re not filling yourself up with the good things God intends for you. 
• Evaluate your entertainment or information sources, the way you destress, the conversations you have with others…are they contributing fear? Envy? Anger? Bitterness? Ask God to help you identify and cut out things that are leading you away from Him. 

How To Store Up Good

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1.3

God has given us everything we need to live a godly life! What excellent news! He’s not trying to hide the answers or the resources from us. And on top of that, it’s His spirit in us that gives us the strength to follow and obey Him. If you’ve been a Christian or in church for a long time, the following bullet-points may seem very obvious or too simple, but upon closer examination, you may find you’re not being as faithful in these basics as you say you are. No judgment here…it happens to everyone <3

• Study the Bible. Use a guided Bible study or read straight from the Word. There are times in your walk for both!
• Pray daily. If you struggle to stay focused, write your prayers or talk out loud. There are even apps now to support you in your prayer life.
• Praise God. Find ways every day to give praise to God. Training your brain to look for the things God is doing in your life and in the world around you changes your perception of everything. 
• Spend time with godly friends. It’s very difficult to stay faithful to God with no support. If you don’t have any godly friends, seek to connect with people at your church, through local ministries, or if necessary- on online groups. No matter how you meet people, measure their words up to Scripture and follow the Spirit’s leading before you learn from them or open your life up to them. 
• Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4.8

May God bless you as you follow Him, and learn to fill up with all the good God has for you!

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God bless you. Stay hopeful!

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