Scriptures for meditation: Matthew 15:11, Proverbs 4:23-27
How’s your heart? What’s happening in its secret places? Are you tending to it? Are you watching over it? Our tendency is to watch over our attitudes, but not so much the heart.
How does one watch over their heart?
“Out of the heart springs the issues of life.” In a confrontation, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonours him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonours him” (Matthew 15:11). The word that comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what Jesus says defiles and dishonours a man. Out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming. The scripture tells us that the hearts of men are desperately wicked.
If our hearts aren’t surrendered to God so it can be purified; if we aren’t asking for His help to watch over our hearts and refine it, then only wickedness will come from it. Eventually, the wickedness that’s in our hearts will find its way in our conversations, homes, offices, and neighbourhoods. What originates in the secrecy of our hearts won’t always remain a secret.
What originates in the secrecy of our hearts won’t always remain a secret.
The religious leaders Jesus had the confrontation with were more concerned with the ceremonial washing of hands that the inner cleansing of their heart from sin—don’t be like them. Don’t just be concerned with your outward actions. Don’t just sweep the dirt you see; go deeper to see what’s in your heart. Think of your heart as a garden. If this garden is left unkept, then thorns and weeds will start to grow and choke out the beautiful flowers. Regularly sit before the Lord and ask Him to search your heart, remove the thorns and refine it so good, holy and righteous things can flow from it.
Bring your heart before God and let Him wash it white and clean by the Blood of the Lamb. As you seek to live as unto the Lord, do not forget that it is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man – or woman, but what proceeds out of the mouth that defiles them – for the words that spring forth from our lips is a far more accurate gauge of a person’s heart and life.
Prayer: Father, search me and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me. Remove from my heart everything that defiled me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.
Angelisa is a Jesus enthusiast, Worship leader & Christian youth leader. She considers herself to be the old-fashioned type of girl who loves spicy food and belly bottom laughter. Among her passions are singing, working with children, and encouraging others.