Consider this: all negative thoughts, conversations, gossip, worry, fear, unbelief, doubts, complaining, and the *list goes on. They are like contaminated dirt that covers our two gifts, so that we do not actively experience them.

The moment we realize that our inner peace or inner joy is gone, we should stop and ask the Holy Spirit why. He knows. Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not quench the Holy Spirit.”

Proverbs 4:23 says to diligently guard our hearts. Be proactively vigilant through applying Psalm 143:4’s warning. It says, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works…” Matthew 13:34 says, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Think of a pot of beans on the stove. If we don’t watch it can boil over in seconds. I know this from experience. It’s a great illustration for Psalm 19:13. It says, “Keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins…” We *presume we know something, and it boils over into sin.