Think About The Source Of Your Words

Have you ever snapped at someone and then blamed your lack of sleep, needing a cup of coffee, or being hungry for being rude? If so, you are not alone. Typically, we look to scapegoat our harsh speech on outward factors, but those hurtful or unhelpful comments come from your heart.

‌See, think of your heart as your reservoir. For example, on September 28, 2023, WYPR News in Baltimore reported that a main reservoir in that city was contaminated with a parasite. City Officials and the Department of Health had to issue a special news bulletin informing residents who were immunocompromised, elderly, or small children not to drink the water coming into their homes.

‌A similar story took place in Portland, Oregon, back in 2014. USA Today News reported that a primary reservoir was compromised after a man urinated in it! The result was even more significant than warning residents. Portland had to dump over 38 million gallons of water and refill it with fresh water. Why go to such lengths and replace all of that water? Like the issue in Baltimore, the water was contaminated, and eventually, tainted water would make its way into people's kitchens and bathrooms!

‌Our heart works the same way. If something sinful is in our hearts, then immoral, profane, crude, or discouraging words will come out because the mouth speaks from the "abundance of the heart." In Luke 6:35, Jesus said, "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart."

‌The backstory of this verse amplifies the importance of thinking through the source of your words and evaluating your standard for communication. Throughout chapter 6, leading up to this verse, Jesus has been involved in conflicts with various Pharisees groups. Usually, the Pharisees are generally illustrated as "the bad guys," but in reality, in their day, they were the ones who appeared to be doing many things correctly. The Pharisees believed in the right things, did the right things, most notably, said the right things, and taught others to do the right things. The issue was not whatthey did but why they did it in the first place and the condition of their hearts when doing what appeared suitable for the situation. As Jesus did on other occasions noted in the Gospels, He raised the standard by saying people need their hearts to be right, and then actions will follow. Looking good outwardly but being disingenuous on the inside was not what God desired from His people.

‌So it is with you and me. God has called us to raise the bar with communication, which begins by considering and thinking through the source of our words. We need to confess any sinful action or attitude. Likewise, suppose we have any hidden bitterness or resentment. In that case, we need to release it and ask for strength because, eventually, those issues will come out of our mouths as regretful communication. To do a deeper dive into this concept of "thinking about the source" of your words, consider this "Heart And Tongue Test:"

A negative tongue reveals a nervous heart.
A harsh tongue reveals a hurried heart
A prideful tongue reveals an insecure heart
An overactive tongue reveals a restless heart
A judgmental tongue reveals an incompetent heart
A critical tongue reveals a guilty heart
A worrying tongue reveals a wearied heart
A doubting tongue reveals a faithless heart.

‌Before you hang your head, remember nobody bats 1000% with their communication. We have all blown it with our words. However, we can make noticeable improvements. By God's grace and our diligence, we can be wise with our words. Moving forward, let us then focus on checking and protecting our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

‌May God bless you as you take the savvy step of thinking about the origin of your words.