Do You Contaminate When Under Pressure?
It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart. Mark 7:15 NLT
When we go through difficult or highly stressful situations, it is easy to react in ways that do not always reflect our faith. Jesus teaches us in this passage that true impurity does not come from external circumstances or from what enters us, but from what we allow to be housed in our hearts and which, eventually, comes out of our mouths. Just as a tube of toothpaste reveals its true contents when squeezed, the pressures of daily life simply bring to light what truly dominates our inside.
- What is inside is revealed under pressure When life’s circumstances squeeze us at work, at home, or in our finances, our automatic reaction exposes whether we are filled with anxiety, anger, or the Holy Spirit. We cannot fake what we do not have when we are in the midst of a severe crisis.
- Our words have the power to cleanse or defile What comes out of our mouths can bless and build up our family, or it can contaminate the atmosphere and destroy our relationships. We must be intentional in ensuring that our expressions are always a reflection of God’s love and peace.
- The danger of automatic negative responses Responding with insults, hurtful words, or negative attitudes when we are frustrated shows that our inner self needs to be purified. External pressure does not create our bad attitude, but simply brings it to the surface.
- The need to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit To respond correctly to pressure, we need to fill our hearts with the love, joy, peace, and patience that come from God. Only from a transformed inside can actions and words emerge that bring life in the midst of adversity.
It is essential that we dedicate time to evaluate what kind of attitudes and words are springing from our inside when we face daily problems. If we fill our being with the presence of God and His Word, we will guarantee that, no matter how much life squeezes us, what flows from us is always hope and edification for those around us.
It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart. Mark 7:15 NLT
Think About It:
- What is usually your most common reaction when you find yourself under a lot of pressure or stress?
- Do you feel that your words in moments of crisis are defiling or blessing your home?
- Ask God today to fill your heart with His Holy Spirit so that your reactions always reflect His peace.