Watch your mouth! (and your attitude will follow)

“It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”  (Matthew 15:11)

As a general rule, the words we say reveal the attitudes of our hearts.  While it’s not always the case, this is one way we can identify racism, classism, and a lot of other ‘isms’ that are causing our world, our nation, our cities, and our families all sorts of turmoil. 

We all know someone, or several people who seem to complain and grumble a lot.  Even though we don’t want to point our fingers back towards ourselves, and it’s tough to admit, sometimes we ourselves are the complainers!  When our speech is peppered with expressions of resentment, negativity, or disappointment, it can be a sign that we’re not at peace with God.  The same thing can be true when we compare ourselves with other people or speak enviously of what someone owns or has accomplished.

Fortunately, what’s true for the negative is also true for the positive.  Hopefully, we’ve known times when we’ve felt particularly close to the Lord.  Maybe it was after an especially good time of prayer. Or maybe an exceptionally deep feeling of forgiveness after Confession.  We may even experience an inner peace following an uplifting conversation with a brother or sister in Christ.  These attitudes will also come out of our mouth!  Our rejoicing heart will speak words of praise and forgiveness to the people around us.  The fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, peace, patience, joy, kindness, gentleness, and self-control—will manifest themselves both in our thoughts and in our conversations.

Jesus’ insight into the close connection between the heart and the mouth is a good one to hold onto.  It’s a simple way to keep track of where our heart is during the day.  When we hear ourselves speaking kind and loving words, it’s time to give praise to God! When we’re complaining or lashing out verbally, we need to stop and look at what’s going on inside us.  As we become more sensitive to these inner attitudes, the Holy Spirit can help us become a brighter reflection of His joy, light, and love.