"What you say flows from what is in your heart." Luke 6:45b (NLT)
Sure, I can recite this verse word-for-word. But how seriously do I live it day-to-day?
I mean, really: Do I real-ize that my words broadcast to other people exactly what's happening in my heart?
Just last Friday, I was fuming at my computer, about to yell, "You stupid piece of garbage!" at the top of my lungs when there came a knock on my door.
One of my students.
Whew!
Close call, that time! Good thing she came when she did, eh?
Or was it?
Was I "saved" by the fact that I didn't actually say anything out loud? That nobody actually heard me verbalize what I was already thinking?
What I Hear...
In her book For Men Only (Yes, I read it; please don't tell on me!), Shaunti Feldhahn quotes a woman from her survey saying, "women are truly verbal and can't help it....the things [people] say to us are in mental tape archives and are as real today as they were the moment they were spoken."
I don't know about you, but this sure hit home for me!
For almost a quarter of a century, my husband has wondered why I purposely rehearse painful conversations in my mind, re-evoking old emotions.
And scripture is crystal clear: What what I take to heart comes out my mouth.
Who Hears Me Most?
I agree that we need to watch our words because of the impact we have on others.
Especially on non-believers.
Especially on our spouses and children.
But I'm not "saved" from the consequences of my complaining+ when my words stay unspoken.
Whether I hear my words aloud or I "just" hear them in my mind:
One person takes the full brunt of every single complain-y, critical, gossipy, and sarcastic comment that goes through my mind:
Me.
(complaining+ = complaining, criticizing, gosipping, and sarcasm)
Q4U:
- What does Luke 6:45 say to you?
- From what you hear–spoken and unspoken–what do you especially take to heart?
The PURSE-onality Challenge: 31 days of replacing "baditude" with God's Word and Gratitude!
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Warm-Up Week, Day 1: What's Wrong With It?
