~What's in your heart~

~For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of~


Do those words stop you in your tracks like they do for me? I mean really read that and meditate on those words. Then, think about all the words that fall out....or even get PUSHED out of your mouth everyday? What does you heart look like now?

Well, when I take a self-examination (because today this is about me), the words out of my mouth definitely depend on my temperament. My father has told me that I am a very temperamental person...and I can agree with that. Thinking on my words, I am feeling like I might need to work on my moods. lol

Sometimes I have nothing but good things to say, and sometimes I have a lot to say that is just plain ugly. At these times, my heart is not filled with anything but my flesh. All I can hear in my head right now is "what IS your heart filled with? WHO should your heart be filled with?" When I feel myself getting upset sometimes, I reflect (after the fact) on scriptures that say that we as Christians should be slow to anger.

"Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose." (James 1:19-20)

"People with understanding control their anger, a hot temper shows great foolishness." (Proverbs 14:29 NLV)

When I really think about it, I say the worst things when I allow my temper and emotions to completely rule me. So if I am supposed to be controlling my anger, but I choose to loose control...then I say things that shouldn't be said....I guess I need to examine my heart. Who am I allowing to lead me? Me? Because if that's true, that's the wrong answer. My heart should be filled with Jesus. That's the only person I want my heart to be filled with. When I speak, it should be guided by the Holy Spirit. That shouldn't change according to my temperament. In this life, we have to die to ourselves (flesh) daily. That means we have to examine who is really Lord over our life EVERY day. If God is truly Lord over my life, my heart should be filled with Him....and out of my mouth, I should speak life. My heart should be full of His light. My confrontations should still be in love whether I'm upset or not.

Now this is not to say that I'm going to stop speaking my mind. I'm going to continue to keep it real, but there is definitely a difference between real and "the ugly." I'm guilty of both. Today, I'm not perfect, but today I stand convicted. The Father disciplines those who He loves, and I'm thankful for it. :-)

"For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:12 NLV)


"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45 NLV)

"....For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Luke 6:45 GNT)

Food for thought!