Matthew 15:11 “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Contrary to what the media would have you believe, you are not what you eat, what you drive or what you wear. These all reflect people’s perception of you and may be ways in which you are shoved into certain categories, but it is not how your life is defined. What defines your life, the beliefs, morals and rules by which you live (which ultimately form your character), is the result of years of people and things pouring into your life. The way you think about things has a lot to do with what you have been seen, heard or been taught. All information which is received and stored is simply data. Whether or not data is good, reliable, evil or otherwise depends on the standard you choose for yourself. Most of us begin with standards set by our parents and family. These eventually give way to standards that we get either from friends or from society via the media. God weighed in on this issue of standards in the book of Exodus when he gave the children of Israel the Ten Commandments. The question is: ‘who have you given authority to establish the standards by which your thoughts and actions will be judged?”

Pray: “Lord God, I realize that in order for me to determine whether my actions are good or bad, evil or honorable depends on what I choose as my standard. I have had many things poured into my life up to this point and as I seek to redefine my life, I ask that you give me eyes to see as I look to compare your standard to the standards I have been living by. Lead me to a better way, Lord. In your Son’s most holy name I pray - Amen”