Daily Devotion for August 9, 2006

Don’t Slip

 

(Jesus said) “A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words form an evil heart.” Matthew 12:35

 

Miriam and Aaron complained, and they got into trouble for it. (Numbers 12)

 

 It wasn’t so much their words that got them in trouble; it was their attitude. Their words revealed their attitudes of pride. (Compared to Moses who, verse 3 says, “…was more humble than any other person on earth.” which I often wonder if Moses wrote that?) The inner person, the heart, was revealed by their candid words.

 

 The phrase “I didn’t mean what I said” doesn’t ring true. Jesus said that my words reveal who I am. And holding my tongue doesn’t change what is in my heart; it only hides it.
 What I want is to never have to be careful of what I say. I would like to have a heart so pure that I could let my words flow straight from my heart to my mouth. As it is, my brain, because of the evil in my heart, must censor my words. And sometimes my brain doesn’t catch all the words that I wish it would.

 

 Rather than “watching my tongue” I need washing of my heart. It’s not a matter of self-control but of God control, because I can’t change myself. I must trust God to change me.

 

Prayer
Lord, when I consider all my words, it scares me. My words are inconsiderate, selfish, judgmental and a dozen other ugly adjectives. These words reveal my heart! I give you permission to change my heart. I want to be free to speak from my heart…without fear of what will be revealed. I know that even then people won’t always like what I say. Jesus showed me that fact. I’m not asking for popularity, just purity.  Cleanse my heart oh God.

 

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