The Influence Within: What’s Rising in Your Life?

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” – Galatians 5:9

My Dearest Althea and Cordelia,

We don’t always notice how the smallest things can change everything. A tiny amount of yeast makes a whole loaf rise. A drop of ink changes clear water. A single spark can start a wildfire.

Galatians 5:9 warns us:
"A little leaven leavens the whole lump."

That little compromise, that little sin—it doesn’t stay little for long. It spreads. It changes things. It shapes who we become. But here’s the hard truth: what we allow in will determine what rises within us.

Let’s take a lesson from the ant and the bee, two tiny creatures whose small choices build something much bigger—for better or for worse.

Photo by Matt L on Unsplash

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Lessons from the Ant and the Bee

1. Small Choices Shape Your Future 🐜
   Ants may be tiny, but they build entire colonies one grain of sand at a time. Proverbs 6:6-8 tells us:
   "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise."

The ant doesn’t wait for the perfect moment—it works daily. Our faith works the same way. We don’t suddenly become strong believers overnight. It’s built through small, consistent choices: reading God’s Word, prayer, choosing truth over lies, and standing firm even when it’s hard.

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2. What’s Spreading in Your Life? 🐝
   Bees are diligent, but if one brings in disease or poison, it can corrupt the entire hive. One sin, one unchecked compromise, can spread further than we realize.

Sevin says in the song below:
"I heard that just a little bit of leaven is what leavens the loaf / So keep the devil out the rhetoric, the threats, and ya posts..."

Are we allowing pride, gossip, lust, or bitterness to sneak in, thinking it's "just a little"? Because it never stays little. Sin left unchecked destroys, but righteousness multiplies blessings.

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3. Guard Your Heart—Because Judgment is Coming
   Jesus isn’t coming back as the suffering Lamb—He’s coming as the reigning King. Sevin puts it bluntly:

"I don’t really think we ready for what’s next / The whole world finna just burn once He flex / He’s coming back to reclaim His throne / Only gives mercy to those who He owns."

The truth is we can’t play games with sin. We can’t live with one foot in the world and one foot in Christ. When He returns, He won’t be negotiating mercy—He will separate His people from those who rejected Him.

The question is, are we His?

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Reflection Questions

• Is there any “leaven” in your life that you’ve been ignoring?

• What’s one small habit you can replace with something that brings you closer to God?

• If Jesus came back today, would He find you living fully for Him?

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Practical Step for Today

Take 5 minutes in prayer and ask God:

🔹 Show me any sin I’ve let creep in.
🔹 Give me the strength to remove what’s not honoring You.
🔹 Fill my life with the things that bring me closer to You.

Let’s Pray

Father,

I don’t want to let even a little sin take root in my heart. Open my eyes to see the places where I’ve let compromise slip in. Cleanse me. Strengthen me. Help me to walk in holiness, to honor You in my words, thoughts, and actions. When You return, may You find me faithful.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Decree and Declare

I decree and declare that I will remove the leaven of sin from my life, walk in holiness, and be found ready when Jesus returns.