I have something my family calls my "driving word". Although I have not used it for many many years... my children still remember it...
This off-color word only came out when I was driving. It welled up from inside me and spewing out of my mouth when someone would be passing me on a double yellow line... or when an insane driver would cut me off... or when a driver was just being plain crazy!
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 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!
... 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 heart. 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 and feel and know and want to say.
What we say gives us a very good look into the depths of our heart! And what others say shows us what is in the depth 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.
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 like part of my heart is still untamed and sick. That's how hearts are!
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. It's continual cry is to have it's own way. Often the cry of our cheating hearts builds up and makes us so uncomfortable that the pressure of our heart 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.
The good news is that as we walk closer to and longer with Jesus and fill our thoughts and intellect and feelings with His ways and His thoughts our will starts to be His. The fight to keep our heart and lips in check will always be there... but it does get easier! HOWEVER, we must always watch the condition of our hearts.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the spring of life.
Proverb 4:23
In other words we must watch what we put into our minds, what we feed our intellect, what emotions we give licence too, and the reign of our will over our life. This is a constant and close watch! Because it will... I repeat... WILL determine the course of our life!
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. That usually looks like blessing a crazy driver... and asking God to show Himself big in the drivers life.
And when my heart realigns with God's heart the benefit is peace and joy!
The condition of our heart and mouth is for us to choose!
Our heart 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 the Lord and then earnestly guard them. The outcome will be life changing.
I choose grace, joy, comfort, gentleness, truth, blessings, peace and all the wonderful blessing that come from a heart that abides IN HIM!
How about you?
You always touch the heart.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely...I agree with every word. Thanks for being bold enough to share your love for Jesus every Sunday with all of your readers. You touch the hearts of many. Have a great week. Mona
ReplyDeleteThank you. I look forward to your post. You are truly a blessing and doing good by God.
ReplyDeleteWonderful and spoken from the heart! I always share your Sunday messages in hopes that someone who may need to know the message will read them. I have 2 people in mind today and pray they will click it to understand what they need to do for themselves! Thanks for sharing God's word!
ReplyDeleteWOW.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing. Thank you so much for this awesome post.
You make me a better person for reminding me of so many good things.
Yvonne, I just LOVE YOU, sister-friend-in-Christ!
Right back at you Michele! You bless my life!
DeleteI always enjoy your Sunday post. Your message always speaks to my heart.
ReplyDeleteY-
ReplyDeleteI featured you today - not that you need it- but your post really touched me today.
Hugs.
Yes, thank you Michele. Your post brought me to Yvonne's post which is wonderful We were just talking about our hearts today at church.
DeleteMichele brought me here too. I *love* this post and think many will be blessed by it. Thank you!
DeletePowerful words....
ReplyDeletethank you!
God bless you
Amen Yvonne.
ReplyDeletexo Pat
What a wonderful message today. Thank you for sharing faithfully just what we all need to be reminded of today. Many blessings on you! Becky
ReplyDeleteVery, very nice. I'll be sharing with my teenagers tonight.
ReplyDeleteIt is 10:24 on Sunday evening and this is speaking to me LOUDLY!!! I had a word, a REALLY, really bad word that only came out of my mouth when I would go to my Mother's apt., usually when she was not there and I would be cleaning it....or attempting. My sister would tell me that the only time I ever said that word was when I was at the apt. I realize, it was hurt, frustration, anger, guilt, and many other emotions that were STUFFED inside and they flew out of my mouth in that one word. Thank you for this very important meaasge. XOXOXO
ReplyDeleteWonderful message, I loved reading every word. The first works from my mouth when I finished were "Amen Yvonne."
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you, Yvonne! You wrote this post so heart felt and full of goodness and grace. I'm thinking that is why God gave us our own free will on how we choose to live our lives. AMEN to all that you wrote. xo
ReplyDeleteGood words Yvonne! I need to continually practice being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Blessings to you my friend, Patti
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I stand convicted. I use my driving word daily since "no one can hear me". Thank you for the fresh word. It was custom made, sent from my Savior through you for me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a timely reminder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a timely reminder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thank you!! you are a Blessing as I stated earlier on my comment. That's the Word. AMEN!! IT SO CONVICTED ME ALSO. I'm being transformed by renewing of my mind also. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteYvonne, when I read your Sunday Scripture articles, I am reminded that you once took several weeks off from your blog because of your desire to spend mpre time on what is important. From the comments above, you can see that your blog touches the lives of many people every week in important ways beyond your weekly articles. I love all of your themes...Menu, Tablescapes (really love these), linky party, but your Sunday Scriptures provide a balm of Gilead just when I need it. Thank you for being a courageous person working at being a true follower of Christ who shares His message on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteJudith