Mt 12:34b   For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks

    

I always think this is an incredibly graphic picture. The heart is full and it overflows up and out of the mouth. I know the physical heart isn't what is being spoken about, but in the Bible it is used as shorthand for all our desires and acts of will. The verse that follows spells it out: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

 

The challenge therefore is to take note of how you speak because it is a reflection of what is within. It is very obvious but something we so often don't think about. Listen to the words of the people around you and remember what they are saying is a reflection of their state of heart. Thus for the person who is always grumbling or always criticizing, what does it say about their state of heart? On the other hand there is the person whose words are gentle and encouraging, always finding words that help, strengthen and pick up the weak and weary around them. What does that say about their hearts?

 

The state of our heart, our inner most feelings and desires, is critical in the Christian life. David was described as a man after God's heart. We talk about people being whole hearted or half hearted. These are all descriptions about how we are on the inside, and the clue to that is the words that come out. Listen carefully to them.