In review of Matthew 12:34 this morning, Jesus reminds me that “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” (NLT)
Jesus reminds me that what I reveal is in my heart. What comes out is an indication of what is in my heart. I can't solve my heart problem but just cleaning up my speech. I must allow the Holy Spirit to fill me with new attitudes and motives; then my speech will be cleansed at its source.
There is no real secret to changing from an angry person into a peaceful person. In order to get the power I need to go from anger to peace, I need to be filled with God’s love.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:5, "[Love] is not easily angered" (NIV). In other words, if I’m filled with anger, then almost everything can upset me. But when I’m filled with God’s love my perspective changes.
Being filled with God’s love requires that I have a relationship with him. My relationship with Jesus Christ will determine how patient I am and how well I master anger.
This means I can change. I can do it through the Holy Spirit! When I become a Christian, I have God’s power living in me. Even in a crisis, when people are out of work, kids are at home, and people are in isolation, I have all the power I need to make the hard changes in my life.
And it starts by looking at my heart. Matthew 12:34 says, "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say" (NLT).
Here are some things the tongue can reveal:
A harsh tongue reveals an angry heart.
A negative tongue reveals a fearful heart.
A boasting tongue reveals an insecure heart.
An overactive tongue reveals an unsettled heart.
A judgmental tongue reveals a guilty heart.
A critical tongue reveals a bitter heart.
If your tongue reveals an angry heart, then ask God to heal your hurting heart with his love. The anger in your heart may come from feeling rejected, abused, or unloved in the past. I need to know that Jesus cares about my pain. He can replace the hurt in my heart with his peace and replace my insecurity with his power.
As I begin to feel accepted in God’s love, my heart will change and produce the fruit of patience and kindness. God promises, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV).
In summary, whatever is in my heart determines what I say. Jesus reminds me that what I reveal is in my heart. What comes out is an indication of what is in my heart. I can't solve my heart problem but just cleaning up my speech. I must allow the Holy Spirit to fill me with new attitudes and motives; then my speech will be cleansed at its source. If I’m filled with anger, then almost everything can upset me. But when I’m filled with God’s love my perspective changes. My relationship with Jesus Christ will determine how patient I am and how well I master anger. I can change. through the Holy Spirit! I have God’s power living in me. A harsh one, reveals an angry heart. A Negative one, a fearful heart. A boasting one, an insecure heart. An overactive one, an unsettled heart. A judgmental one, a guilty heart. A critical one, reveals a bitter heart. I can ask God to heal my hurting heart with his love. As I begin to feel accepted in God’s love, my heart will change and produce the fruit of patience and kindness.
Father this morning I realized that my heart has been getting harsh and critical. I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit’s power living in me to change this. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I ask for you in your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
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