What We Say Says Something About Us: Guarding hearts And Words
What we say reveals the condition of our hearts. See how God’s Word helps us guard both our hearts and our words each day.
I had something my family calls my “driving word.” Although I have not used it in decades, my children still remember it. And I remember it in a very poignant way! Do you have a driving word, or any other word you would not want children to hear? What we say matters, and the Bible reminds us that words come from the heart have power.
My off-color word only came out when I was driving. It welled up from inside me and spewed out of my mouth when someone passed me on a double yellow line, or when an insane driver cut me off, or when a driver was just being plain crazy!
I would yell my “driving word” very loudly as if the driver of the other car could hear. Now, who was crazy?
From The Mouths Of Babes
One day when my two little ones were safely strapped into their car seats and we were happily singing along to We Sing Silly Songs With Lary a car turned right in front of our’s and I almost hit it! It was a very close call, and I was quite shaken!
From the back seat, a wee sweet voice yelled out my “driving word” for me! I was heartsick! What a lesson straight from the mouth of a babe. My babe!
A Heart Problem
For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. Luke 6:45
My problem was not other drivers; my problem was me. And my problem was not my mouth; it was my heart.
Jesus told us that what we say comes from the condition of our hearts. The word “heart” in Greek is cardia. It carries the idea of our mind, emotion, intellect, and will. What we say is what we think, feel, know, and want to express. What we say gives us a very good look into the depths of our hearts. And what others say shows us what is in the depths of their hearts, too.
This is a very interesting and telling perspective. When we are aware enough to listen to what we say, we can see the condition of our very heart.
Our hearts and lips work in tandem. They are a team! Our lips give voice to our inner thoughts.
Our Hearts
I don’t say my driving word anymore, but here’s the thing: if I’m not careful, I sometimes think it. I no longer give voice to it, but left unchecked, I can still find that word in my heart! This saddens me greatly!
It’s as if part of my heart is still untamed and ailing. That’s how hearts are! And it’s a reminder that what we say matters because words come from the heart and reveal what is truly inside us.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
Our heart (our mind, emotions, intellect, and will) is habitually dishonest and misleading. Its continual cry is to have its own way. Often, the ugly cries of our cheating hearts build up inside us and make us so uncomfortable that the pressure of our hearts is released in the words we say! I call that word vomit. It’s a graphic word picture of our sick hearts!
Even if we are children of God, our hearts remain a constant problem. We must be aware of that.
Good News
The good news is that as we walk closer to and longer with Jesus and fill our thoughts, intellect, and feelings with His ways and His thoughts, our will starts to be His. This is an amazing truth! The fight to keep our hearts and lips in check will always be there, but it does get easier! However, we must always watch the condition of our hearts and give them no voice.
Proverbs, the book to make people wise, says…
Watch Over Your Heart With All Diligence, For From It Flows The Spring Of Life. Pro 4: 23
In other words, we must watch what we put into our minds, what we feed our intellect, and what emotions we give license to. This is a constant and close watch! Because it will determine the course of our lives!
Think of a tube of toothpaste. What comes out cannot go back in. Once our words from our hearts are out, they are out there for good!
Keeping It In Check
When my “driving word” creeps up from that dark, hidden depth of my heart, I need to render it powerless once again. Acknowledging that my driving word is wrong and willful and then submitting to what God would have me do keeps that word in check. That usually looks like blessing a crazy driver and asking God to show Himself big in the driver’s life.
And when my heart realigns with God’s heart, the benefit is peace and joy! Peace and joy are the only victorious way to live in this life!
We Choose
The condition of our heart and mouth is for us to choose.
Our hearts can fill the course of our life and those around us with ugliness, strife, baseness, defilement, deception, and hurt, or we can choose to give our hearts and lips over to the Lord and then earnestly guard them. The outcome will be life-changing for us and those around us as well.
I choose grace, joy, comfort, gentleness, truth, peace, and all the wonderful blessings that come from a heart that abides in Him. How about you? Friend, never forget that what we say matters. Words from the heart can bring hurt, but words have the power to bring life and blessing when they flow from a heart surrendered to Him.
Memorize This Verse With Me
Watch Over Your Heart With All Diligence, For From It Flows The Spring Of Life. Prov 4:23
More Sunday Scripture Posts
If this post encouraged you, here are a few more Sunday Scripture posts I think you’ll find meaningful.
What To Do While You Wait For God
Find peace and strength in God’s presence as you pray with purpose and learn what to do in His waiting room.
Greeting God Each Morning: A Life-Changing Habit
Begin each day with simple, steady rhythms that anchor your heart in God’s Word and set a peaceful tone.
Abide And Obey: Living A Life Close To God
Rest in the confidence Scripture gives about salvation and the assurance that you truly belong to Him.
Living A Transformed Life Every Day
Romans 12:1–2 shows how to present your everyday life to God and be renewed in mind, choosing His life over the world’s chaos. Simple, practical ways to abide and obey each day.
Each of these posts points back to God’s Word and His truth. I pray one (or more) will speak to your heart in a special way today.
Happy Sunday, friends…
Amen! Thank you for sharing truth! 1 John 1:9
Yes, he is faithful to forgive. Amen!
Beautifully written. And a reminder I needed! I enjoy your blog so much! Thank you. Be blessed as you share!
Amen! So very true. Thank you very much. As usual, you blessed me with a message that I really needed.
Praise God! He is always gently showing us our rough places! And he gives us grace to change.
Thanks, again, Yvonne, for a message I needed to hear. Blessing to you!
God bless you too, Susan.
I needed to hear this message today as my heart has been hurting. The words flowing from my lips are reflected from this hurt. Praying now for the one who’s needing a big blessing from God! Thank you, Yvonne!
I am praying for you, Kathy.
Watch Over Your Heart With All Diligence, For From It Flows The Spring Of Life. Prov 4:23
In case anyone is interested, the original Hebrew of Proverbs 4:23 is:
מִכָּל־מִשְׁמָר נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ כִּי־מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים׃
mikal-mish’mar n’tsor libeak ki-mimenu tots’oth chayim
(with every)-(a guard)(watch)(your heart)(for)(from it)(a thing that goes forth)(life in the plural)
So perhaps more literally,
With every guard, watch your heart for from it the thing that goes forth is life.
Of course, that is far less poetic. But languages do not really translate well. This one is close, but please note that while תּוֹצְאוֹת can refer to a source such as spring or fountain, it is a far more generic word than either of those. It is usually refers to the setting of a boundary of a geographical area from point A to point B. So here it is connecting the heart (point A) to life (point B).
This is wonderful! Thank you so much! Such a blessing.
Praying for a better heart!
Me too.
Oh! Yvonne! This is a wonderful post and it really spoke to my heart! I needed to read this today. I am so guilty of uttering that “driving word” — and especially if I am driving by myself. Next time I am driving, I am going to use ” Thanks, Yvonne!” as my “driving words”! This will be so much better for me and I know I will feel much better, too!
I, too, am going to follow your wonderful example and “choose grace, joy, comfort, gentleness, truth, peace and all the wonderful blessings that come from a heart that abides in Him”.
Again, thanks, so much, for your wonderful post! I appreciate you so very much, Yvonne, and thank God for you!
Mary Ann, I bet most of us utter things we should not. I’m so thankful for a Father who is understanding and forgiving and can help me through His Holy Spirit.
Amen…thank you!
Praise God!
Wonderful words to live by, Yvonne. I was just praying God would help me watch over the words that
come out of my mouth and not judge people. Enjoy your week. You are a treasure!
Joyce
Oh, we all struggle with judging too. Another topic for a Sunday Scripture post.
So inspiring. I find myself sometimes using those “driving words”, but also simply thoughts of anger, jealousy, and a host of other feelings, that could fall into that same category. Prayers for me always.. and for all of us. The world needs it. Almost every day, I seem to encounter events, words and other situations in my daily life that stops me in my tracks and makes me realize my own failures. I am thankful that I have reminders, and this one from you especially. We all can help each other. Let’s continue the encouragement. God is always watching. For the grace he has given us, may we have the love for him to do our best! Though be it from afar, It is a blessing to have you and the others here in my life. Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing these life lessons!
Aww, Dianne how nice of you to say. I always know I have friends “out there” and just know I am writing to you from my heart. Yes, “the kindness of God leads to repentance”. God is so gracious and good. He even give us His Holy Spirit to help us change: continuing sanctification.
I really needed this this morning.
Thx, Sharon
I love how God brings others into our lives with messages that help or convict.
Thank you for blessing us with your ministry!
Kim
You are so welcome, Kim! Praise God!
Thank you for this lesson. I teach a Bible class weekly for young mothers. I have shared that I, too, have a problem when I get behind the wheel. I decided I want to be a “vehicle of peace”. My DIL made me a sticker with that on it that is on my visor. It reminds me when I start to get angry at another driver.
Smart DIL!