(Luke 6:43-45 CEV) A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life” by looking at something Jesus said about the importance of our words. Please read this passage carefully. Jesus makes it clear that there is a direct relationship between the type of words a person speaks and the type of person he or she is. Just like trees produce their own fruit, we literally produce our own words. The nature of the fruit comes from the character of the tree and the same holds true for humans. Jesus taught that a good tree is not capable of producing bad fruit and a bad tree is not capable of producing good fruit. Why? Because the fruit is a direct representation of the composition (makeup) of the tree. This is how it is with our words. Jesus said, “Your words show what is in your heart.” In the King James Version this portion is translated, “…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” The point is that the quality and type of your words are a direct indication of the quality and condition of your heart. Your heart is your reservoir. Your heart is your deposit. What is IN you abundantly will come OUT of you eventually.
If Jesus put so much emphasis on the importance of our words, then shouldn’t we? Can we honestly think that we can pray (using words) in faith in the morning and then speak words of fear, doubt, and unbelief all day long, and still expect to see results? No way! This is why our words are so important. Our words are an expression of our true selves. People know you by the words you speak. Just like we know God through his Word(s). Similarly, most of you (who receive Today’s Word) don’t know me personally, but you know me by my words. By knowing my words you know me. My words are just as much me as I am myself. My words are birthed out of the reservoir of my soul. So if we want to have an effective prayer life, we must learn to speak words that help and don’t hinder our prayers.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The words you speak are a litmus test for the condition of your heart (deposit).
2. You are your words and your words are you.
3. Daily, your words are telling everyone who you are.
4. If you don’t like the message your words are portraying about you, then it is time to change.
5. To change your words you must change your heart (deposit).
6. To change your heart (deposit) you must change your input: what you see and hear.
7. If you can change your input you can change the condition of your heart; if you can change the condition of your heart you will change the quality of your words; if you can change your words you can change your life! Not only will your prayer life be different, but every area of your life will be positively impacted by speaking words that are pleasing to God.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I know my words flow out of the abundance of my heart. My heart is filled with what I see and listen to. From this day forward I declare that I shall check my input to I ensure I am filling my heart with good things. As I fill my heart with things that are pleasing to You, my words will indicate the condition of my heart. My words will be words of blessing and not cursing, help and not hurt, good and not evil. Once my input is pure, my heart is right, and my words are righteous, I cannot help but be blessed. My words will support my prayers and never cancel them out. I am looking forward to changing my life by changing my words. Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
