The Power of Our Words
In the heat of the moment, we’ve all said things we regret. A hurtful phrase, a sarcastic comment, or a harsh criticism can leave lasting damage on those around us. But have you ever stopped to think about where these words come from? According to Jesus, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). Our speech is a reflection of what’s going on inside our hearts.
The Heart-Mouth Connection
Our words are not born in our mouths; they are conceived in our hearts. If our hearts are harboring worldliness, immorality, fear, pride, selfishness, hypocrisy, lust, or deceitfulness, it will eventually come out in our speech. This means that others can tell a lot about our spiritual state just by listening to us talk.
Self-Control and Self-Discipline
To progress in verbal holiness, we need to understand the importance of self-control and self-discipline. While often used interchangeably, the Bible distinguishes between these two concepts. Self-control refers to restraint, while self-discipline refers to intentional direction. The wise person is marked by both self-control and self-discipline, holding back hurtful words and choosing to speak life-giving ones instead.
Shaping Our Hearts
So, how can we cultivate hearts that produce wise and gracious words? The answer lies in the classic Christian disciplines of grace: the word of God, prayer, and the sacraments. By immersing ourselves in these means of grace, we allow God to shape our hearts and nurture holy habits that bring forth words that please Him.
Practical Application
This understanding has practical implications for our daily lives. When we pray in the Spirit, we are given a spirit of self-control (2 Tim. 1:7). Baptism reminds us that we are cleansed by Christ’s blood and must speak as those who are made pure. Through the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Spirit strengthens us with God’s grace, enabling us to endure in our hearts, words, and actions.
A Prayer for Wisdom
As we seek to grow in wisdom and verbal holiness, let us echo the psalmist’s plea: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight” (Ps. 19:14). May our words reflect the state of our hearts, and may our hearts be shaped by God’s wisdom and love.
Other books in the Help! series:
- Help! I’m Struggling with the Doctrine of Predestination
- Help! I Want to Read the Bible, but I Find It Boring
- Help! I Keep Losing My Temper
- Help! My Kids Keep Talking Back
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