“A Whole Heart”
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
Proverbs 4:23, ESV
for from it flow the springs of life.
Yesterday we talked about the importance of our speech, but today we’re going to get to the heart of the matter, quite literally. Bridling our tongue is important (Jam. 1:26), but there’s more to it than that. In Luke’s account of what we call the Sermon on the Mount, we learn from Jesus that the words we speak come from somewhere much deeper than our mouth. They come from the heart.
45 …for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45b, ESV
If we’re having a struggle with unclean words coming out of our mouth, then we need to consider that our mouth itself may not be the main issue. It may be that there’s something broken deep in there. The good news? Jesus is the healer of broken lives and hearts (Psalm 147:3). If there’s something in there than isn’t right, He can handle it. But we have to bring it to him and allow Him to address those places of brokenness within us. Whether it’s abuse or wrong that we’ve suffered at the hands of another, painful words that someone has spoken over us, trauma from a tough situation, or the sting that comes from our own willful sin and mistakes, we are all in need of His healing touch.
Today during your devotional time, get real with God. Bring your hurts, hang-ups, fears, questions, and pains. Seek Him with your whole heart, for He has good plans for you (Jer. 29:11-13), and He’s a good healer. Ask Him to reveal, and to heal (Psalm 139:23-24).
Song for today:
Prayer for today:
Jesus, I recognize I need your healing on the inside. Show me the areas you want to touch in my heart. Reveal any wounds that have been buried and need your cleansing. I’ve been broken from my own sin, and those who have sinned against me. I ask you to forgive me of my sin, and I choose to forgive those who have wronged me just as you forgive me. Your work at the cross was enough to set me free from any brokenness I have inside, to restore me to wholeness, and to give me the grace to love others just as you have loved me.