What's in Your Heart Will Shape Your Words

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Janice sat quietly on the bus, replaying her sharp response to the driver in her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder, Why did I react so harshly? This was not like her. She prided herself on being calm and kind, yet the words that had escaped her lips were far from that. Deep down, she knew God was not pleased with how she had spoken. The guilt settled in, and as she thought it over, she realised that her response was not really about the driver. It was the frustration she had been carrying for weeks, fueled by her country's troubling news and societal issues. All her pent-up anger spilt out in a way that hurt someone innocent. It dawned on her that perhaps she had let the world's negativity fill her heart, and today, it overflowed through her words.

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45b) Our words reflect what we store in our hearts. The daily grind can bring stress, frustration, and anxiety for the Christian professional, student, worker, and business person. We may let these emotions take root in our hearts without realising it, causing our words and actions to reflect that negativity. Luke 6:45 reminds us that when our hearts are full of frustration or worry, it shows in how we speak to others—whether it is a client, colleague, family member or bus driver. But when we intentionally fill our hearts with God’s peace, love, and wisdom, our communication changes, bringing life and encouragement to those around us.

Instead of frustration or harshness, we bring encouragement and life to those around us, whether in a business meeting, classroom, or workplace interaction. Just like Janice realised, it is not about avoiding conflict or pressure but about ensuring that God’s goodness fills our hearts, not the world’s negativity.

Reflect

Proverbs 4:23 challenges us to guard our hearts diligently, recognising that everything we do and say flows from within. Ask God to fill your heart with His peace, so your words and actions reflect His love, even in the most challenging moments.

Pray

Lord, help me, as a student, professional, and worker, to guard my heart against the stresses of life. Fill me with Your peace, love, and wisdom so that my words reflect Your goodness and bring life to those around me. In Jesus ’ name. Amen.