What happens when one rotten apple stays in the barrel with all the other apples. Little by little they all rot. Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

I have a chapter in my book, “Freedom! From Past Hurts” entitled Inner Defilement. Matthew 15:18 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Whew! Are you listening to what you are saying about your past?

In 1983 I was given a book that had a title something like “Do You Hear What You Are Thinking?” Our words come from our thoughts. Our thoughts come from what we believe in our heart. What we believe is formed by our perceptions from our pasts.

The Holy Spirit taught me years ago to ask, “Marilyn, what do you believe about yourself right now?” Reactions are triggered by something in our present that brings up an unresolved issue. Proverbs 4:23. Buried things produce inedible fruit.