SPEAKING FROM THE HEART

 

August 17, 2023

Matthew 12:35-36

 

“A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in them, and an evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in them. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

Luke 6:45

“A good Person brings good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and an evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in their heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

 

WHAT IS YOUR HEART FULL OF?

 

Words have an impact on us and those around us every single day. This means each day we are confronted with a choice: how do we want to use our words? We know words are much more than a form of communication. They can be a meaningful way to build others up, or a damaging blow to others and us. I suspect we have all experienced both sides of words used in such ways.

For this reason, it is extremely important to understand how to choose our words wisely. I for one know firsthand that it is easy to use words but impossible to take them back. The results from our speech can be either beautiful or unattractive.

A verse today asks us to answer the question: What is your heart full of? Are there any patterns that you notice? Stop here. Take a moment a really think about it. What comes to mind?

The Bible gives us one way we can tell what our hearts are full of. Jesus says, “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of,” (Luke 6:45). What is your heart full of?

Possible, in this little exercise, you noticed a pattern or theme in our words or comments. Maybe we are those who struggle with fear or anger or bitterness. On the other hand, maybe our words tend to be bursting with hope or are words that are encouraging or thoughtful.

When we want to choose our words wisely, we need to start by looking at our heart and examining it. It is there where we can find the root to our words. That is what our Bible teaches us today.

Look at Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

When we are examining our words and hearts, we must gauge whether our words are unwholesome or beneficial. The best way to do this is by turning to the Bible, our source of truth to see what it has to say about the difference between beneficial words and unwholesome talk. So, let me ask again, “What is your Heart full of?

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”