For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” – Matthew 12:34.
When Jesus spoke these words, He told us something simple but powerful: what’s inside us comes out in our words.
Listening to the Heart: Embracing Godly Speech. Think about your favorite coffee mug. What spills if it’s filled with coffee, and someone bumps your elbow? Coffee, of course! In the same way, when life “bumps” into us – through stress, anger, or hurt – whatever fills our hearts spills out through our words.
Jesus knew this when He confronted the Pharisees. Their harsh words about His miracles showed what was in their hearts: pride and fear, not love for God.
The truth is that we face similar tests daily. In these everyday moments, such as a frustrating commute, a challenging work situation, or a disagreement with a loved one, the words we speak reveal what truly lives in our hearts – grace, understanding, love, judgment, hurt, and bitterness.
A Heart Transformed: Speaking with Christ-Like Love. The good news is that God isn’t just interested in changing our words – He wants to change our hearts. When we let Jesus in, He begins a beautiful work of transformation. Like cleaning out an old closet, He helps us remove what shouldn’t be there and fill our hearts with good things:
- Love instead of hatred
- Peace instead of anger
- Patience instead of frustration
- Kindness instead of criticism
These good things naturally flow out in our words when they fill our hearts. We don’t have to force it. Just as a healthy apple tree produces good apples, a heart full of God’s love will produce loving words.
Echoes of the Soul: Letting Faith Guide Our Words. How do we fill our hearts with good things? It’s simple, but it takes dedication:
- Read God’s Word daily, even if it’s just a few verses
- Pray regularly, sharing your heart with God
- Spend time with other believers who encourage your faith
- Practice thankfulness, even in hard times
When we do these things, our words begin to change naturally. We might surprise ourselves by responding with patience when we used to react with anger or speaking encouragement when we used to criticize.
Remember: Our words aren’t just sounds – they’re windows into our hearts. Let’s ask God to fill our hearts with His goodness so our words can bring His light into the world.
Dear God, look inside my heart today. Clean out anything that shouldn’t be there. Fill me with Your love, peace, and kindness so that my words will bring life to others. Help me remember that my words show what’s in my heart. For this we pray In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Exploring Our Faith: Questions for Reflection
1. Before speaking today, pause and ask: “What’s in my heart right now?” How does this relate to how we express our emotions?
2. God wants to change our hearts, not just our words. What do you think is the importance of a heart transformation?
3. How can the understanding that our words are “windows into our heart” change the way we communicate with others?
4. When you catch yourself saying something unkind, stop and pray for God to fill your heart with His love.