The Heart Meditation

The spoken word usually shows what occupies the mind of an individual. It leads that individual in a particular direction either good or bad as spoken of in Proverbs 4:10-27. One thing must be understood that the tongue or mouth only speaks what comes from its source.  The source here being the heart. The Lord declared in Matthew 12:34 that our spoken words show what is stored up in our hearts. The images you expose your heart to, the words you hear (spoken or in songs), the ones you read are all stored up to form ‘The Heart Meditation’ which in turn produces words and actions. These words when spoken become actions grows to habits and finally form the character of the person.

No wonder God commanded Joshua to meditate on God's word, ensuring it never departs from his mouth. Only as he does this will he be able to be prosperous in every facet of his life. This means he must recite (meditate - think on) the Word of God continually (day and night) until it becomes a habit, a way of life for him, stored in his heart to be drawn on when he needs it. This is so cardinal to living the abundant life that God had planned for us that He warned us to guard our hearts with all diligence because it is the source of life. This simply means we have been given the ability to watch what goes in and out of our hearts. Whatever goes in, we allowed it to! No matter how long these words are stored in or how much you try to hide it, it will surely flow out of your mouth one day and will reflect in your actions and attitude. The heart is like a well of water, it holds and stores the water until the tongue comes to fetch some out of it.

You may ask, why so much emphasis on words. The words we speak are so important that by them a man is justified and by them a person is condemned. A day will come friend, that every man will give an account of every idle spoken word, it does not matter if it was spoken in jest or not (Matthew 12:36-37). Why you may ask again, after all you did not mean them? The question is 'if Jesus Christ is your example, did you ever hear Him speak idle words? Every word of God had a purpose and a target. When you speak, what is the purpose of what you are speaking, what is the target?

Friend, this calls for wisdom! There is a need to be careful what we allow into our hearts, what we say and how we say them. Life, grace, faith, hope and encouragement should be heard from us as it was emphasized by Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 4:29. Our words must not be 'rotten talk' but words that will build up people that are in need not tear down or keep down someone in need. This simply means every word coming out of every heart has the power to either build a life or ruin it. No wonder the Bible equally warns in Proverbs 18:20 that ‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.’  Your words will either give life, wholeness, and grace or it will give brokenness, ruin and death.

This therefore calls for caution on how we speak and what we speak. Our perfect example is Jesus Christ. His words are that of life, that quickens, edifies and makes whole. He never spoke idle words. His words had a target, a purpose and they met it. The words He spoke changed and is still changing the lives of His hearers each time He speaks. It’s time we follow this great example of our Father by speaking His words that produce life. It is a call to be like Him in speech. ‘Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making.’ John 6:63b. Friend, let us ensure that our words edifies and builds just like the words of Christ enough of the tearing, injuring and ruining of one another. Fill your heart with God's word and meditate continually on it daily, then your spoken words will be filled with life.