Learning to Speak Life | How Jesus Changes the Heart Before the Words
Learning to Speak Life
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."— Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
I think the Lord has brought two lessons together here, but one is carrying the other.
The main lesson is not simply, "Watch your words."
The greater lesson is this:
Jesus changes the heart, and then the words follow.
Proverbs 18:21 is more than self-help. When we read it in light of Christ, we discover that Jesus is after something much deeper than our speech—He is transforming our hearts.
This morning the Lord let me see a beautiful sunrise through the trees toward the light reflecting on the water.
Why that picture?
Because learning to walk with Jesus is often just like that.
The light is already there, even when part of it is hidden from our view.
That reminds me of my own journey. There were many times I didn't understand what God was doing, yet He kept asking me to trust Him until His light revealed what He was teaching.
One of the most important lessons I'm learning is this:
When we don't understand, we can still believe God.
God is so kind.
He listens.
He knows our hearts.
And the help He gives is far greater than simply answering our questions.
He transforms our hearts.
For a long time I wondered,
"Lord, why do I keep having this same problem?"
I wanted Him to remove the difficulty.
Instead...
He invited me into a classroom.
As I continued walking with Jesus, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me to believe God before I understood.
Looking back now, I realize that was God's mercy.
He wasn't ignoring my questions.
He was teaching my heart.
I discovered something that surprised me.
The problem was never just my words.
Jesus was after something much deeper.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."— Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
Our words reveal what fills our hearts.
If my heart is filled with fear...
fear comes out.
If it is filled with bitterness...
bitterness comes out.
But as Christ fills our hearts with His truth, His compassion, and His love...
our words begin to change because our hearts are changing.
One of those classrooms was a little blind dog.
I didn't understand why certain things were happening.
I didn't understand why some people could treat others in ways I would never choose.
But Jesus wasn't only teaching me to understand them.
He was teaching me how He loves them.
The Lord had to change my heart so I would not treat anyone as though they were worth less than He says they are.
That lesson didn't happen in comfort.
It happened in adversity.
That is why John begins his Gospel this way:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... In him was life; and the life was the light of men."— John 1:1,4 (KJV)
Jesus is the Word.
His Word brings life.
His life becomes our light.
As we continue walking with Him, His light exposes what still needs changing inside us—not to condemn us, but to transform us.
I'm finding that speaking life isn't something I accomplish by trying harder to choose better words.
It happens as Jesus changes my heart.
The more my heart agrees with Him...
the easier it becomes for my mouth to speak life instead of death.
I'm still learning.
One ordinary day...
One ordinary lesson...
One faithful Teacher.
I hope this is a blessing to your morning.
Learning to Walk with Jesus — One Lesson at a Time
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