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Presented by Lisa Bishop
What is your heart full of? We are examining why our words matter; and why what we say is important as followers of Jesus.
In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus shows what our words expose when he says,
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:43-45).
Jesus is explaining how we can judge a person’s character. Much like if we were to look at a tree or plant to tell if it is a “good” tree or not, our words show the fruit of our hearts.
What does the fruit of your words reveal about the condition of your heart? If you were to take inventory of the conversations and comments that flow from your tongue on a regular basis, what would you notice? When you are at the office, what pours forth from your lips, out loud, or utterances under your breath? When you are at home with your spouse, your kids, or your roommate or interacting with a stranger, what do your words display?
We can learn a lot when we pay attention to the words that come out of our mouth. If you find your words are harsh, impatient, laced with anger, self-defeating or deflating, or derogatory toward others, it’s time to examine your heart. Your words reveal what your heart feels and what’s inside you.
Your words can be the indicator light that something in your heart needs the healing touch of God.
Your heavenly Father wants to minister to the corners of your heart that are producing bad fruit—the places that are angry, bitter, wounded, weary, or hardened. Hear me when I say we all struggle with our words. Different circumstances, seasons, or people will provoke the depths of our soul to surface through our speech. When you stop long enough to observe your words and get curious about where they’re coming from you can get yourself off autopilot and intentionally invite God to search you and help you.
One of my favorite prayers comes from Psalm 19:14,
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
As Christians, our hearts have been and are continually being changed by the power of God. And that change is reflected in our words.