And when he had called all the people to him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile the man.  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.  And when the was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also?  Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out in the draught purging all meats?  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within and defile the man.  Mark 7:14-23

Jesus said it, I listen, remember, believe and follow.  We cannot blame this world for our corruption.  It is out of my own imagination that come the sinful measures that taint my own existence.  There isn’t a single one of those evil things of which I am innocent, except murders though the Lord says that being angry with my Brother without cause is the same.  I hate because I have chosen to pursue that perspective that arose as an idea, then grew to an emotion which rose to retributive thought and then to action.  This world may be wicked but it is not the wickedness of the world that colors me wicked, it is the blackness and evil precursors within my own soul that label me corrupted.

Lord, I am undone, by the works within my person.  Free me from my evil thoughts, ideas and actions before I hurt someone or defile myself when I am supposed to be a vessel for your glory.  There shall no sign be given unto this generation.  

Father, I don’t need a sign to see that I have been blaming the things, people and situations around me for the darkness within when it is by my own heart that I have been made wicked.  Cleanse my heart of its unrighteous proclivity.  Give me freedom from the evil that resides dormant or active within.  Set me free from those influences which seek to produce wicked behavior that I might remain free from perpetual sin.  Lord I give my heart to you and ask that you protect it from my own propensity to spoil.  Let me remain clean that I might give powerful witness of righteous living in this life and the next.  In Jesus’ Holy Name.