SCRIPTURE Matt. 12:33 "A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

OBSERVATION What a powerful insight; "whatever is in your heart determines what you say." Many times people will excuse what they say by suggesting that "I had a bad day", "I've been under a lot of stress", "I didn't mean it", "I was just kidding", or "I'm not usually like this". When our mouths get away from us, instead of excusing it, we should be taking a "heart check". Something very well may be wrong at a heart level.

APPLICATION/CONFESSION I need to watch my mouth. My biggest challenge is to let out those good things in my heart so that I can bless the people around me. In my heart I love my wife and kids--I need to tell them more often. In my heart I so appreciate the people who serve so faithfully around me--I need to use my mouth to let them know.

On the other hand, I am learning, when I am curt or ungracious to people around me, to look at my heart and see what is driving me. I discover, too often, that it is a selfish impulse that comes from the fear that their mistake will make me look bad or inconvenience me. That is a wrong, selfish heart attitude and God is challenging me to change it.

PRAYER I know I can't control my mouth without You Lord. More importantly, by your grace, free me from my self-absorbtion and tendency to hurt others with my mouth simply because I am wrapped up in myself. Give me your heart for other. Help me to love like You do.