Reflection of Our Hearts

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

You can tell a lot about a person simply by listening to what he or she talks about. Have you ever been privy to a conversation (perhaps unwillingly) that made you squirm uncomfortably? Have you ever been present when others are indulging in vicious gossip, especially the character assassination of some poor soul who’s not there to defend herself? How did it make you feel? How did you respond?

If you’re anything like me – someone who worries about offending others – maybe you try changing the subject, or you might politely excuse yourself and leave (or shirk off to the nearest corner, anywhere to get away). In my most recent experience with this type of situation I found myself humming (fairly loudly), “It’s a Small World After All.” I don’t know where that came from! (Well, maybe I do.)

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus said, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

If our conversations reflect what’s going on in our hearts, it might be prudent to pay attention to the content of those conversations. What are our words saying about our relationship with our Heavenly Father – our Holy God?

A sobering thought, isn’t it?

While it’s true that we must pay attention to and be careful about what we say, it’s also true that change comes from the inside out. If my words are merely an indication of my heart’s condition; and my words are critical, vicious, foul and ugly, do I have a word problem or a heart problem?

Remember that true change comes only from an intimate relationship with the Lord and from meditating on His Word. The Bible has much to say about the words we speak. If you want your words to reflect your love for God, you might begin by reading the Proverbs and underlining, highlighting, or writing on a separate piece of paper every verse that refers to speech or the tongue.

Be encouraged. We’re all works in progress, and God is doing a good work in you!