The following message was on my mind this morning as I woke up:
Corrupt communication would not proceed from your mouth if corrupt meditation were not first taking
place in your heart."
The scripture I've been meditating on recently is this one:
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29)."
But how do you control what is coming out of your mouth? Jesus Himself told us in Luke 6:45:
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
A person's mouth reveals the meditation of their hearts (innermost being). So if someone says unkind words to you, then know that their words came from corrupt meditation within their heart first.
That is why it is important to evaluate whether the thoughts coming into your mind agree with God's word - or not.
If meditating on such thoughts will bear bad fruit, then reject them and shift your thoughts in a more positive direction. After all, you don't want these words entering the treasury of your heart, then manifesting themselves in the words you speak and in the way you act towards others.
So I have a 2-Day challenge for you. Since many of us (me included), plan to visit our family for the holiday, let's put some insurance in place so that no irritated, frustrated, hurtful, nor unkind words come out of our mouths during our visits.
Day 1: Follow the advice of Philippians 4:8 today:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
Day 2: If we are diligent about our meditation on Day 1, then the words of our mouth on Day 2 will be consistent with that. Although I did not come up with this acronym 'THINK,' it is useful to help yourself evaluate the words coming out of your mouth:
- T - Is it True?
- H - Is it Helpful?
- I - Is it Inspiring?
- N - Is it Necessary?
- K - Is it Kind?
There is a reason God tells us to be slow to speak, which gives us time to think before we speak! James 1:19-20 says:
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
So let's purpose in our hearts to bless others with the fruit of our lips. That is one of the best gifts we can give!
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails... (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)"
May God bless you this day and everyday!