Matthew 12:34 says, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” The words that come out of our mouth are from our thoughts. 

Matthew 15:18-19 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…”

Inner defilement causes serious spiritual heart disease. Hebrews 12:15 says that when we allow bitter roots to spring up, they defile everyone around us. Peter told Simon that he was poisoned by bitterness. Acts 8:23

In my first book, Freedom! From Past Hurts, chapter 10 is titled Inner Defilement. We often believe that we have been defiled by something that happened to us. However, it is our negative caustic outlook that defiles from within. Keeping a record of wrongs defiles and blocks love from flowing in or out.

Song of Solomon 2:15 says that it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. In Old Testament times there were vineyards with hedges around them. If a small critter made a hole, it was an opportunity for the next size animal to burrow in.

Think of little foxes as irritations, slights, offenses, resentments, or bitter root judgments. These things run ship shod and knock off our tiny blossoms that are a promise of fruit.

I like the picturesque words of Proverbs 24:30-31. They described an unkempt vineyard. Verse 31 says, “And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.”

Guarding our heart is synonymous with keeping the hedge around our vineyard in good repair. It means that when we are slighted, we ward off neglecting to remain in gratitude. When we feel irritated or offended, we make sure that there is no little hole left for the enemy to enlarge.

2 Timothy 2:26 is our warning. The devil looks for areas of unresolved issues so that he can ensnare us to defeat our faith. It says, “And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

What have you left unresolved in your own heart? Unresolved issues leave us open for demonic influences. They set us up to dishonor the Lord through fleshly indulgences or reactions.

Unresolved issues leave open opportunities for the devil to work against us. They are open doors that lead us to disobey His commands. He says to forgive as we have been forgiven. He says to not let the sun go down on our wrath. He has called us with a holy calling. We are created to glorify Him by bearing much fruit. Unresolved issues leave us fruitless.

Judas had a hook ~ greed. A woman poured very costly fragrant oil on Jesus’ head. The disciples were indignant. As I read this last night, the Holy Spirit showed me something I had not connected before.

Right after this Judas went to the chief priests. Read his words carefully. Matthew 26:15 was his question to them, “…What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?…” Verse 16 says, “So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”

Back to Luke 4. The devil had tempted Jesus. Verse 13 says, “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” John 13:2 revealed that time. It says, “And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him.”

It was a setup because there was a hook in Judas’ heart! Peter understood the devil’s setup. He was sifted. Luke 22:31-32. 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Jesus is our example of leaving no opportunity for the devil’s input. John 14:30 says, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this word is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” The Amplified says, “…he has nothing in Me that belongs to him…”

Ephesians 4:26 was written about not going to bed angry. Verse 27 in the Amplified says, “Leave no (such) room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him).”

Proverbs 4:23 says that when we don’t resolve issues, they will spring out when we least expect them. Have you ever wished you had not said something? Have you ever reacted in the flesh and tarnished your testimony? 

Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.”

Matthew 17:1-8 recorded Jesus’ transfiguration. He had taken Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain by themselves. Read these words carefully. Verse 2 says, “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

The three saw Jesus as they had never seen Him before. Then a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud. Verse 6 says, “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.”

Verse 7-8 says, “But Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and do not be afraid. When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

What do you see when you look at your circumstances? Do you get overwhelmed by the magnitude of your trial? Does what you hear others say cause fear to come into your heart? The Lord is Present. Ask Him to touch you, so that you see Jesus only.

In Matthew 16:23 Jesus rebuked Peter. He had just begun to explain to His disciples that He must suffer many things, be killed, and then raised the third day. In verse 22 Peter said, “…Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Verse 23 says that He said to Peter, “…Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men.” The Greek word for offense denoted a snare or stumbling block.

We just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday. As we face our impossibilities, we can fill our minds with hope from God’s word. Jesus was raised from the dead. No grave could hold Him. Neither will any trial keep us from walking in the fullness of His purposes for our lives. Our trials are His temporary tools to conform us to His will and ways.

I highlighted worry, bitterness, and fear as covert sins. They are futile and therefore a waste of time. Everything that the Lord did was strategic, and pre planned before the beginning of time. John 5:19 says, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

We redeem our time by waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead us. Galatians 5:16 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” John 15:5 reminds us that apart from Him everything we do is futile ~ accomplishes nothing.

Mental gymnastics feed the lust of our flesh. It is our flesh that seeks to figure things out, in order to best accomplish something that we want to do. Our good works were preordained, but we cannot walk in them when we are in our flesh. Galatians 5:17. Ephesians 2:10.

I love to watch young children learning how to do gymnastics. They are so agile, bendable, and flexible. They seem to have boundless energy. Mental gymnastics are the opposite. They make us rigid and inflexible. They get us stuck in a groove of thoughts. They play over and over, causing emotional fatigue.

Rehearsing our past or what might be is futile. They wear us out. Part of Strong’s definition for futile is: fruitless, empty, hollow, ineffective, lacking substance, void of results, and worthless. The word always makes me think of a rodent in a wheel.

When I was young I had a white rat with red eyes. Her name was Queenie. She spent inordinate amounts of time running on her wheel. Then she would stop and just swing slowly to a standstill. 

That is what happens with mental gymnastics ~ we come to a standstill ~ accomplishing nothing for our expended mental energy. Let’s review: all thoughts precede actions or inaction. Mental gymnastics end with inaction ~ passivity, apathy, or procrastination. 

God ceased from His labors. We too must cease all mental gymnastics. Let me explain them this way: trying to figure something out, negative dialogue, waffling back and forth, rehearsing something that took place (past), or presuming something might happen (future). It is all futile and wears us down emotionally.

Psalm 23:2-3 says, “…He leads me beside the still water. He restores my soul…” Did you pick up on the connection? Stillness restores. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” We rest as we focus on the Lord. 

Isaiah 32:17 says, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” Verse 18 was the verse the Lord gave me when I was to buy my mobile in a senior mobile park.

It says, “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Abiding in the Lord is our habitation of soul rest. We are enveloped in His love, drinking in His peace.