Out of the Mouth the Heart Speaks

 The Bible uses the words mind and heart interchangeably; it speaks to what we are presently thinking about in our conscious mind and what we have been thinking about repeatedly over time, our subconscious mind. Jesus said, “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). What we store in our subconscious will come out in conversations and in how we respond to challenges and adversities we face.

Out the heart the mouth speak. What is stored up in your heart?

Matthew’s gospel quotes Jesus as saying, “But I tell you that everyone will give an account on the day of judgment for every idle word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33–37 NIV). This passage highlights the importance of being very careful with how we respond to the world around us verbally. It is also a lesson on what we choose to meditate on regularly. If we never spend time studying God’s word and fill our time watching worldly movies or reading filth, then when life hits us hard or opportunities arise, what we have been meditating on will inevitably come out.

In his Prison Epistle of Colossians, the Apostle Paul encouraged the believers to set their minds on things above, not on the things of the earth (Col. 3:2). He exhorts them to put to death the evil desires that represent those who are under the wrath of God, which they once lived (5-7). To consciously “put off” the old man, putting an end to anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language. He goes on to encourage them to “put on” the new man who is renewed in the likeness of Christ (8-11). To put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, not complaining, but forgiving as we have been forgiven (12-13). Then Paul tops all this off by saying, "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called…and be thankful" (14-15).

To accomplish all this, putting off and putting on, dying to the old man and living out the new life, Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (v. 16). Here lies the key to setting the mind on things above. In verse one, he says to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Seeking Jesus and listening to His words are daily conscious choices that position us to respond to life with His mind and heart. Our minds are renewed, and we gravitate towards what we focus on. Focusing on the gospel and the words of Christ prepares our hearts and minds to share the message of God’s love and grace with the harvest of souls we encounter daily.

In Christ,

Derrick Poston

Evangelism Catalyst, NAMB

President, Great Adventure Missions