Yesterday, we focused on throwing off the things that hinder our progress as we run the unique race that God has for each of us. Yet it’s equally important to pay attention to what we’re picking up and allowing into our lives along the way.

What you put into yourself is stored up in your inner being, where it shapes who you become and how you live. Jesus says in Matthew 12:35 (TPT): “When virtue is stored within, the hearts of good, upright people will produce good fruit. But when evil is hidden within, those who are evil will produce evil fruit.”

What you watch, what you listen to, what you read, the conversations you engage in regularly – all these things you consume on a daily basis are moulding the kind of person you’re becoming.

A lot of content that’s considered acceptable in the world, or that’s been normalised, is simply not good for us – from toxic narratives online to inappropriate content on streaming services to negative conversations in the circles we move in. It’s worth asking ourselves: is what I’m giving my attention to adding value to my life?

1 Corinthians 10:23 (AMPC) references the freedom we have under grace yet reminds us that this freedom comes with the responsibility to act wisely. It says: “All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].”  

The challenge is that the things that are bad for us usually taste good and go down easily. The flesh loves all the stuff that’s junk food for the soul. Proverbs 18:8 (AMP) says: “The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]”. But there’s a warning in the second half of the verse: “They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].” In other words, they penetrate deep into our hearts where they’re stored up and begin to produce evil fruit. And this is true of any input that we’re better off avoiding.

Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us to make better choices. Our daily battle is to resist the flesh and follow the Spirit’s guidance. The best way to go the distance and finish well is to trustingly follow God’s action in us. Galatians 5:25 (NIV) says: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

So what should we fill up on? Proverbs 4:21–22 (TPT) says: “Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”

Bible Reading (NLT):