Have you ever met a successful complainer?

Jesus spoke a great deal about our words as they are the evidence of our hearts condition. “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (MT.12:34-37)

Our words then are a reflection of our heart as well as our true convictions. Carelessly we speak because we fail to realize that God is keeping a record. Imagine how differently we would speak if we only realized that everything we said was being recorded and would be used for or against us in the near future. Then I believe the cost of such carelessness would bring a change to the way we choose to use the gift God has given us to speak. Some people speak from experience, while others because of experience don’t speak. John Mason says it this way. “Never judge a persons horsepower by their exhaust”. Our choice of words can and will make a very real difference. Consider these few examples. “Let’s find a way” or “There’s no way”, “What if it doesn’t work” or “What if it does”, “There has to be a better way” or “That’s the way it has always been done”. The little differences in words make all the difference in the world.

By our own words God says we will be acquitted or condemned. By our own words we will be protected and set free, or enslaved and condemned. Because God judges the heart and from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. So are we not all suffering from a heart condition that shows itself in the things we say? Praise be to God that He is in the heart transplant business. David would say it this way, “Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”(PS.51:10) May we some day Lord take captive every thought, and every word. May we learn from your creation that our ears are not made to shut, but our mouth is, and we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Knowing that when we do you are listening.